Augmented reality system with color-based fiducial marker utilizing local adaptive technology

ABSTRACT

Techniques to improve operation of an augmented reality device and/or system utilizing fiducial markers and/or color space conversions are provided. In various embodiments, a color space of an object is altered based on a movement of the object in relation to an environment. The environment may include two or more segments with a distinct environment color space in relation to one another. The object may transition from one of the two or more environment segments into the other one of the two or more segments. The alteration is based on the transition from the color space of the one of the two or more environment segments into the other one of the two or more environment segments.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein generally relate to computing systems, and morespecifically, to augmented reality systems with color-based fiducialmarkers utilizing local adaptive technology.

BACKGROUND

Certain materials (e.g., paint, ink, and/or the like) have been used tomemorialize scenes and/or objects into semi-permanent to permanentmediums. Computer technologies allow for digitization and detections ofthese images embedded on these mediums and have introduced imageprocessing as a technical field. Detection of images and revealinginformation associated therewith constitutes at least one aspect ofimage processing and have applications in a number of cases.

It is with respect to these and other considerations that the presentimprovements have been needed.

SUMMARY

Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, articles ofmanufacture, and computer-readable media to improve operation of anaugmented reality device and/or system utilizing fiducial markers and/orcolor space conversions. In various embodiments, a color space of anobject is altered based on a movement of the object in relation to anenvironment. The environment may include two or more segments with adistinct environment color space in relation to one another. The objectmay transition from one of the two or more environment segments into theother one of the two or more segments. The alteration may be based onthe transition from the color space of the one of the two or moreenvironment segments into the other one of the two or more environmentsegments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system that provides color-basedfiducial markers utilizing local adaptive technology.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a clustering process.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of color space conversion.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a centralized system that providescolor-based fiducial markers utilizing local adaptive technology.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of an operating environment thatprovides color-based fiducial markers utilizing local adaptivetechnology.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate formation of a scannable image in accordancevarious embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate embodiments of computing systems.

FIGS. 8A-8I illustrate embodiments of logic flows.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a computing architecture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments disclosed herein provide techniques to determine the mostappropriate color space model to use such that an object (such as acolored marker) may be detected in an environment as the object moveswithin the environment. Generally, as the colored marker moves in theenvironment, embodiments disclosed herein may monitor the currentposition of the colored marker and predict the most likely futuremovement of the colored marker. To allow the colored marker to maintaininformation that can be read by a scanning device (e.g., a camera), themost appropriate colors may be determined for the current and/orpredicted future movement of the colored marker. Doing so may maintainthe orthogonality to a dataset being represented by the colored markeras well as any transformations thereto.

In one embodiment, given a specified radius around the colored marker, asystem may update the color space of the colored marker continuously(e.g., according to periodic timing intervals) and/or responsive to userinput. The environment may be divided into a plurality of segments(e.g., grid and/or an octree for multi-camera setups) relative to one ormore colors each camera monitoring the environment can see (or detect).For each segment (e.g., a box and/or a color region), the colortransformations may be predetermined. When the colored marker is withina segment of the environment, the colored marker is given thepredetermined color transformation specified by the segment of theenvironment. As the colored marker moves to a different segment of theenvironment, a linear transform may be applied between the colors tosmooth the transition between colors.

Often, when a colored camera marker (e.g., for an augmented realitysystem) moves within an environment (e.g., a room), it may be moredifficult for cameras to detect the colored marker depending on thecolors around the colored marker in the environment. Advantageously,rather than adjusting once for the entire environment, embodimentsdisclosed herein perform color space modifications locally around thecolored marker and continuously do so as the camera and/or the markermoves around the environment.

Although the augmented reality context is provided as an example of theutility of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, colorspace conversion can improve object detection in different contexts,including detection and navigation activity in real-world settings, andother applications where utilizing a color space conversion is useful.Furthermore, although the present disclosure provides for various colorspace conversion techniques, any color space conversion, includingblack, white, and grey-scale conversions, in addition to non-black,non-white, and non-grey-scale conversions, can be used consistent withone or more embodiments as disclosed herein.

Various embodiments improve image processing by identifying which colorspace model is most appropriate to use for detection in a particularenvironment, e.g., to convert between color space(s) to improvedetection within particular environments and/or in association withparticular targets as the targets move through the environment. Invarious embodiments, the conversion between color space(s) provides fora matrix located on an object or displayed by an electronic device,where the matrix is optimized for detection in an environment byperforming one or more color space conversions in generating the matrix.In one or more embodiments, the matrix is a matrix barcode, and in oneor more embodiments, the matrix barcode is a fiducial marker.

In various embodiments, the color space conversion encodes informationwith respect to a matrix barcode, which permits proper scanning of theobject associated with the matrix barcode, while preventing tamperingand false verifications, e.g., the color channels containing theinformation are tied to the conversion, and without having a scanningdevice accessing information related to the conversion, the scan cannotverify the object associated with the object and/or access anyinformation associated therewith.

In various embodiments, a color space conversion provides for increasingthe amount of information stored on the matrix, e.g., matrix barcode, asthe color channels associated with the converted-to (derivative) colorspace can be increased as needed, without any limitation (provided thescanning equipment is suitably configured to make detections when thematrix is scanned).

In various embodiments, a computer device, such as a laptop, cellphone,tablet, or any other suitable device may generate an image depicting acolored marker before or after an initial color space conversion. As thecolored marker moves within the environment, a change may occur suchthat the colored marker may be more optimally displayed for detection inthe environment if one or more color space conversions are performed onthe colored marker. The computer device may perform the relevant colorspace conversions and display an altered colored marker when theposition of the colored marker in the environment changes, where thecolor space conversions are optimized in relation to the current and/orpredicted position of the colored marker in the environment. Thecomputing device may be configured to continually sample images and/orother data associated with the environment to detect additional changes,and in response to those changes, continually optimize the displayedimage including the colored marker utilizing additional color spaceconversions and techniques. In various embodiments, the displayed imagemay be a matrix barcode, a barcode, a fiducial marker, etc. Accordingly,one or more embodiments disclosed herein, in addition to other benefitsoutlined and described herein, a computer device offers the ability todynamically improve detection of a displayed images by detecting changesin the position of a colored marker in the associated environment(containing or associated with the displayed image) and altering thecolored marker in response to the changes in position according to oneor more color space conversion techniques.

In various embodiments, the color space conversions improve edgedetection. In image processing, edge detection is a known technicalfield and techniques for edge detection provide different results fordifferent color space models. It is not unusual for one color spacemodel to provide better results over another color space in edgedetection because having image data in accordance with the color spacemodel has a higher likelihood of success in edge detection than theother color space model.

Color space models are configured to represent color data, but mostmodels differ in their representation of that color data. For instance,the CIELAB or LAB color space model represents the color as threevalues: L for the Luminance/Lightness and Alpha (A) and Beta (B) for thegreen-red and blue-yellow color components, respectively. The LAB colorspace model is typically used when converting from a Red-Green-Blue(RGB) color space model into Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black (CMYK). For someimages, representing its color data in the LAB color space modelprovides better edge detection results than other color space models,including the RGB model. As a result, the embodiments can improveaffordability, scalability, modularity, extendibility, orinteroperability for an operator, device or network that utilizes imagedetection by providing a more effective and accurate manner of scanningan image including a colored marker (and by extension, minimizingredundant consumption of computer resources).

With general reference to notations and nomenclature used herein, one ormore portions of the detailed description which follows may be presentedin terms of program procedures executed on a computer or network ofcomputers. These procedural descriptions and representations are used bythose skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substances oftheir work to others skilled in the art. A procedure is here, andgenerally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of operationsleading to a desired result. These operations are those requiringphysical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though notnecessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical, magnetic, oroptical signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined,compared, and otherwise manipulated. It proves convenient at times,principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals asbits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or thelike. It should be noted, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to those quantities.

Further, these manipulations are often referred to in terms, such asadding or comparing, which are commonly associated with mentaloperations performed by a human operator. However, no such capability ofa human operator is necessary, or desirable in most cases, in any of theoperations described herein that form part of one or more embodiments.Rather, these operations are machine operations. Useful machines forperforming operations of various embodiments include digital computersas selectively activated or configured by a computer program storedwithin that is written in accordance with the teachings herein, and/orinclude apparatus specially constructed for the required purpose or adigital computer. Various embodiments also relate to apparatus orsystems for performing these operations. These apparatuses may bespecially constructed for the required purpose. The required structurefor a variety of these machines will be apparent from the descriptiongiven.

Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsare used to refer to like elements throughout. In the followingdescription, for the purpose of explanation, numerous specific detailsare set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. Itmay be evident, however, that the novel embodiments can be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, well-knownstructures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order tofacilitate a description thereof. The intention is to cover allmodification, equivalents, and alternatives within the scope of theclaims.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram for a system 100. Although the system100 shown in FIG. 1 has a limited number of elements in a certaintopology; it may be appreciated that the system 100 may include more orfewer elements in alternate topologies as desired for a givenimplementation. The system 100 may implement some or all of thestructure and/or operations for the system 100 in a single computingentity, such as entirely within a single device.

The system 100 may comprise an apparatus 120. The apparatus 120 may begenerally arranged to process input 110 using various components andgenerate output 130 of which at least some output 130 is displayed on adisplay device or printed on a suitable material surface. The apparatus120 may comprise a processor circuit 140 and computer memory 150. Theprocessor circuit 140 may be any type of logic circuit and the computermemory 150 may be a configuration of one or more memory units.

The apparatus 120 further includes logic 160 stored in the computermemory 150 and executed on the processor circuit 140. The logic 160 isoperative to cause the processor circuit 140 to process (e.g., encode)image data of multimedia datasets 170 (which may include images and/orvideos) into patched image datasets 172 where the image data isaccording to one or more color spaces and/or color space conversionsusing a color space transform and encoding mechanism 180. The multimediadatasets 172 may include one or more images depicting an environment(e.g., to be used to generate the environment segments 193). The colorspace model, as described herein refers to any suitable color spacemodel, such as Red-Green-Blue (RGB), Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black (CMYK),Luminance-Alpha-Beta (LAB), and/or the like, where each channel in themodel can represent a bit of data. For example, the Alpha and Betachannels of the LAB color space model refer to green-red and blue-yellowcolor components, respectively. The green-red component may represent avariance between red and green with green in the negative direction andred in the positive direction along an axis and the blue-yellowcomponent may represent a variance between blue and yellow with blue inthe negative direction and yellow in the positive direction along anaxis. In various embodiments, an edge may be defined (mathematically) aseach pixel location where the Alpha channel has a value of zero (0) ornear zero. In various embodiments, a predefined range of valuesassociated with each color channel, e.g., a color value of a colorassociated with the color channel, may represent a first bit value,e.g., “1,” and a second range of values may represent a second bitvalue, e.g., a “0,” from an encoding scheme perspective. As such, as thenumber of color channels is increased, the overall encoding capacity mayincrease as well.

In various embodiments, the patched image data includes a plurality ofpatches of which each patch comprises color data (e.g., pixel data whereeach pixel is represented as a tuple of Red-Green-Blue (RGB) colorintensities). As described herein, one color space model (e.g., RGB) maycorrespond to a higher likelihood of success in edge detection thananother color space model. Some images provide optimal or near-optimaledge detection results when arranged in RGB while other images provideoptimal or near-optimal edge detection results when arranged in LAB oran XYZ color space and vice versa.

In various embodiments, the logic 160 is further operative to cause theprocessor circuit 140 to apply the color space transform mechanism 180to the image data to generate the transformed image data in accordancewith the other color space model. Then, the logic 160 is operative tocause the processor circuit 140 to apply an edge detection and decodingmechanism 190 to the transformed image data. The detection and decodingmechanism 190 is an image processing technique that refers to any one ofa number of algorithms for identifying edges or boundaries of objectswithin images and/or decoding data stored therein. In general, the edgedetection technique 190 provides information (e.g., pixel data)indicating positions of edges in the image data of the multimediadatasets 170. Some implementations of the edge detection technique 190operate by detecting discontinuities in brightness and, for thoseimplementations, having the image data in a LAB color space, or XYZcolor space over RGB provides more precise edge detection results. Someimplementations of the edge detection technique 190 provide accurateedge detection results when the image data is modeled according to HCL(Hue-Chroma-Luminance) instead of RGB.

In various embodiments, the logic 160 is further operative to cause theprocessor circuit 140 to identify an image group corresponding to thepatched image data. The multimedia datasets 170 further includes imagegroup model data correlating images with a color space model most likelyto provide appropriate edge detection results. In various embodiments,the image group model data indicates which color space model to use intransforming a given image prior to edge detection to achievenear-optimal edge detection results. The logic 160 is further configuredto cause the processor circuit 140 to select a color space transformmechanism 180 based upon the image group. The color space transformmechanism 180 is operative to transform the image data into transformedimage data in accordance with another color space model, the other colorspace model having a higher likelihood than the color space model atedge detection for the image group. It is appreciated that the othercolor space model may be any color space model, including those with adifferent number of channels than the color space model.

In various embodiments, the logic 160 can be further operative to causethe processor circuit 140 to determine a color space that is optimal fordetection in association with a particular object, entity, orenvironment, where a color space or histogram representation of theparticular object, entity or environment can be part of the multimediadatasets 170. The logic 160 can be further operative to cause theprocessor circuit 140 to determine the optimal color space based on oneor more color space conversion operations, where the color spaceconversion operations can provide a mechanism for encoding informationin any suitable medium, including but not limited to a matrix, such as amatrix barcode, a fiducial marker, any other suitable barcode, or anyother suitable image. The logic 160 can be further operative to causethe processor circuit 140 to generate a scheme for a matrix, e.g., amatrix barcode, fiducial marker, etc. based on the color spacedetermination and for detection in relation to the particular object,entity, or environment. The logic 160 can further be operative to causethe processor circuit 140 to provide for a scheme to add at least oneultraviolet layer and infrared layer to an image, such as a matrix ormatrix barcode, useful for detection in relation to the particularobject, entity, or environment, where the ultraviolet layer and/orinfrared layer add additional data carrying capacity and/or security tothe detectable image.

The one or more color space models as described herein, as stated andimplied elsewhere herein, refers to any suitable color space model, suchas color space employing a tristimulus system or scheme, theRed-Green-Blue (RGB), the Luminance-Alpha-Beta (LAB), an XYZ colorspace, and/or the like and/or variations of the same. Similarly,although various embodiments may refer to a particular conversion fromone specific color space to another specific color space, conversionsbetween other color spaces are contemplated and consistent with theteachings of the present disclosure.

In various embodiments, as described herein, one color space model(e.g., RGB or XYZ) may correspond to a higher likelihood of success inedge detection than another color space model in terms of detection of adisplayed or printed image, e.g., barcode, in relation to an object,entity, or environment with a particular color distribution. Moreover,particular colors and color channels associated with a color space mayoffer superior edge detection in relation to the object, entity, orenvironment. Some images provide optimal or near-optimal edge detectionresults when arranged in RGB while other images provide optimal ornear-optimal edge detection results when arranged in XYZ or LAB and viceversa. By way of example, an image depicting a red balloon on a greenfield would appear much different in RGB than in LAB; therefore, withrespect to edge detection, LAB would provide a higher likelihood thanRGB at successfully identifying and locating edges (e.g., boundaries) ofthe red balloon, or a matrix, e.g., barcode or fiducial marker, that hada red color in the green environment.

In various embodiments, a color space is associated with one or morecolor channels, with various examples of color channels in relation toindividual color spaces being provided for above and elsewhere herein.In various embodiments, a color channel is a distribution of colors witha first color and second color of first and second highest prevalence,respectively, where the first color becomes a minimum in the colorchannel and the second color becomes the maximum such that the boundarymay be a transition between these colors, where this minimum and maximumscheme may be with respect to a color space that is converted theretofrom another color space, e.g., a second color space part of a colorspace conversion from a first color space. This boundary may be at leastone pixel where the color changed from the first to the second color orvice versa. If the first color is set to zero (0) and the second coloris set to two hundred and fifty-five (255), then, mathematically, thisboundary may be located at pixel(s), light components, or other physicalmanifestations reflecting of values that jumped between the minimum andmaximum color value; for example, there may be sharp division (i.e.,thin boundary) in which at least two (or portions of) signalrepresentations, or other physical manifestations reflecting the lighttransition immediately between 0 and 255. In various embodiments, asalluded to above, a range of values within a color channel mayconstitute a bit value of “1,” e.g., 128-255, and a range of valueswithin a color channel may constitute a bit value of “0”, e.g., 0-127.In various embodiments, color channels, e.g., “R,” “G,” and “B” define acolor space such as RGB (e.g., a first color space based on atristimulus system), and in various embodiments custom color channelscan be created using a (second) tristimulus system associated with anddefining an XYZ (second, e.g., converted-to, color space).

In various embodiments, as discussed herein, one or more color channelranges are selected such that a maximum color value of one or more colorchannel corresponds to a unique color value, most prevalent color value,and/or highest color value of a target object, entity, and/orenvironment associated with a scan and the minimum color value of thecolor channel corresponds to a most unique color, most prevalent colorvalue and/or highest color value of the scannable image, e.g., matrix,matrix barcode, and/or fiducial marker, where additionally, the mostprevalent value and/or highest color value of the scannable image isalso a least prevalent (lowest color value) and/or absent from thetarget object, entity, and/or environment associated with the scan, orvisa-versa (e.g., with respect to the maximum or minimum values).

In various embodiments, as described herein, particular objects,entities, or environments may have color distributions that make morecomplicated and varied color spaces, and colors and color channelsassociated therewith, including colors imperceptible by the human eye,more attractive for detection, in addition to increasing capacity forstorage and encryption of information. As such, in various embodiments,the logic 160 is further operative to cause the processor circuit 140 toidentify an image group corresponding to the patched image data. Themultimedia datasets 170 further includes image group model datacorrelating images with a color space transform model most likely toprovide appropriate edge detection results. In some embodiments, theimage group model data indicates which color space transform model touse in transforming a given image prior to edge detection in order toachieve near-optimal edge detection results. The logic 160 is furtherconfigured to cause the processor circuit 140 to select a color spacetransform mechanism 180 based upon the image group. The color spacetransform mechanism 180 is operative to transform the image data intotransformed image data in accordance with another color space model, theother color space model having a higher likelihood than the color spacemodel at edge detection for the image group.

In various embodiments, the system 100 can include one or more of acamera 194 and/or one or more of a scanning device 197, where bothcamera 194 and device 197 can be any suitable device for obtaining,capturing, editing, and/or scanning images, including but not limited tovideo or camera pictures, of objects, entities, and/or environments. Invarious embodiments, the system 100 can include a display 195. The logic160 can be configured to capture or scan images of a particular object,entity or environment using camera 194 and/or device 197, where thecaptured images can become part of multimedia datasets 170 and used fordetermining suitable color spaces, performing color space conversions,and/or scanning images determined from color space conversions, as maybe consistent with the teachings provided herein.

In various embodiments, the system 100 can include a printing device 199(e.g., printer) or an application for the same, where images part ofmultimedia datasets 170 and/or images generated by one or morecomponents of system 100, by applying a color space transformationtechnique or mechanism, such as a scannable matrix, matrix barcode, orfiducial marker can be printed by printing device 199 and/or printingdevice 199 can provide a scheme for another device to print or generatean image in association with the scannable matrix, matrix barcode, orfiducial marker.

In various embodiments, the logic 160 may be configured to instruct oneor more of the camera 194 and/or scanning device 197 to continuouslyscan an object, entity, or environment that is associated with aninitial image displayed on display 195, where the displayed image may bean initial matrix, a matrix barcode, and/or a fiducial marker that iscreated using one or more techniques as outlined herein, including usingthe image processing, image generation, and/or color space conversiontechniques as discussed herein, and/or any other suitable imageprocessing technique and/or color space conversion technique.Alternatively, the displayed image may be a matrix, matrix barcode,and/or fiducial marker that is displayed without an associated colorspace conversion technique, e.g., the logic 160 or other suitablecomponent instructs the display 195 to display an initial image, e.g.,matrix, matrix barcode, and/or fiducial marker without, initially,considering an associated entity, environment, or object associated withthe displayed image. In various embodiments, the initial or firstdisplayed image is a matrix, matrix barcode, and/or fiducial marker thatis colored, e.g., not black, white, or based on a greyscale.

In various embodiments, whether the initial displayed image wasassociated with an optimization technique or not, the logic 160 causesthe processor circuit 140 to instruct one or more of the camera 194and/or scanning device 197 to detect a change to an object (and/or achange in a position of the object), entity, or environment associatedwith the display 195, wherein various embodiments the detection is withrespect to an environment associated with the display 195 and thedisplayed image of the display, e.g., a matrix, matrix barcode, and/orfiducial marker. For example, the logic 160 may cause the processorcircuit 140 to instruct the camera 194 and/or scanning device 197 tocontinually scan the color distribution of the environment to detect achange in the color distribution or color space associated therewith,e.g., if the environment changes a lighting scheme, a change in shadesoccurs as a result of changes in time, new items are introduced into theenvironment that impacts the shadow profile and/or otherwise alters thecolor space distribution, new colors are applied in the environment(e.g., walls are painted a new color), or any other suitable change(e.g., a change in a location of an object) that produces a color spacechange. In various embodiments, once the change in the object, entity orenvironment is scanned, and optimal-color space is determined inrelation to the object, entity, or environment, where the optimal-colorspace can refer to optimization in relation to detecting a displayedimage in association with the entity, environment, or object. The colorspace optimization may be any (or may utilize) any suitableoptimization, image processing technique, and/or image processingsystem, including but not limited to an embodiment directed to colorspace optimization as discussed herein. In various embodiments, once theoptimal color space is determined, then the logic 160 may cause theprocessor circuit 140 to configure the display 195 to alter thedisplayed image in accordance with the optimal color space, e.g., a newmatrix, matrix barcode, and/or fiducial marker is displayed on display195 such that it has a color space distribution (e.g., the colors makingup the image) are optimized for scanning, e.g., by the scanning device197, or any other suitable component, in relation to the environmentwhere a scan may take place (or an object or entity associated with ascan). Accordingly, in various embodiments, the alteration to thedisplayed image enhances the ability of the displayed image to bedetected in relation to an object, entity, or environment where a scanmay take place.

In various embodiments, a representative dataset that can be used todetermine an optimal color space from an associated object, entity, orenvironment, may be obtained by the logic 160 causing the processorcircuit 140 to instruct the scanner 197 and/or camera 194 to take one orimages and/or videos of the changed object, environment, and/or entity,and construct a dataset for color space optimization (e.g., pursuant tothe technique of FIG. 3 by way of non-limiting example). As discussed ingreater detail herein, the color space optimization technique, asutilized by logic 160 in relation to FIG. 1 or as utilized by any othersuitable component described herein, may include processing therepresentative dataset into a histogram representative of the changedenvironment, object, or entity, identify a most prevalent plurality ofcolors associated with the changing environment based on the histogram,and determine a related plurality of colors based on the histogram,where the related plurality of colors include at least one of i) anabsent color in relation to the changed object, entity, environment, orenvironment segment 193, and ii) at least one least prevalent colorassociated with the changed object, entity, environment, or environmentsegment 193. Thereafter, the logic 160 (or any other suitable component)may cause the processor circuit 140 to instruct the display 195 todisplay an altered version of the displayed image based on the relatedplurality of colors, e.g., an altered matrix, matrix barcode, and/orfiducial marker reflects one or more colors that are the relatedplurality of colors.

In various embodiments, as outlined herein, a tristimulus system and/oran RGB color space may be used in whole or in part to determine theoptimal color space associated with the changing colors of theenvironment, entity, or object associated with the displayed image to bedetected or scanned. In various embodiments, the changing environmentmay be mapped according to an RGB color space, initially, and then oneor more color space conversions may occur concerning the mapped RGBcolor space, including a conversion to another color space, e.g., an XYZcolor space and/or an XYZ color space containing a luminance channel. Invarious embodiments logic 160 may cause the processor (based on thehistogram and received dataset associated with the changing environment,entirety, or object) to determine at least one set of color coordinatesfor each one of the most prevalent colors according to the another colorspace and determining at least one set of color coordinatescorresponding to the relate, colors according to the another colorspace, wherein various embodiments, the at least one set of coordinatesof the most prevalent plurality of colors being perpendicular ororthogonal, with respect to the another color space (e.g., XYZ), to theat least one set of coordinates of the related plurality of colors. Invarious embodiments, the filtering of the luminance channel, e.g., ifthe another color space is an XYZ color space with a luminance channel,is done to obtain all of the color-coordinates associated with theconversion.

In various embodiments, the logic 160 may be configured to instruct theprocessor circuit 140 to determine a range of additional colors ((basedon the histogram and/or a received dataset associated with the changedenvironment, entirety, or object), including one or more colors inbetween the related plurality of colors and the most prevalent colorsassociated with the altered entity, object, and/or environment, and theprocessor 140 to instruct the display 195 alter the displayed coloredmatrix code based on the determined optimal color space is furthercaused to: instruct the display device to display the altered matrixbased on both the related plurality of colors and the additionalplurality of colors, wherein the first matrix code is a fiducial markerand the altered matrix code is a fiducial marker.

The environment analysis and prediction logic 191 is configured topartition an environment (e.g., a room, floor of a building, outdoorarea, etc.) into a plurality of environment segments 193. Theenvironment segments 193 may be generated by the logic 191 based on oneor more images depicting the environment (e.g., images of theenvironment captured by the cameras 194 and/or scanner 197). Forexample, an image of the environment may be partitioned into 4, 8, 16,or any number of segments 193. In some embodiments, the environment maybe partitioned into segments 193 based on the colors in the environmentsuch that an object, e.g., a matrix, matrix barcode, and/or fiducialmarker displayed in the environment may be optimally visible and/ordetected.

For each segment 193 of the environment, the various components of theapparatus 120 may determine an optimal color space according to thetechniques described herein. Doing so allows an object, e.g., a matrix,matrix barcode, and/or fiducial marker displayed to be colored accordingto the optimal color space associated with each segment 193. Forexample, an object may be displayed in a first segment 193 of anenvironment having an associated first optimal color space. The firstsegment 193 may be, for example, a portion of a room that is near awindow and is therefore brighter than a second segment 193 of the roomwhich is not near a window. The optimal color spaces of the first andsecond segments 193 may be distinct.

When the object is positioned (or displayed) in the first segment 193 ofthe room, the object may be altered to have the optimal color spaceassociated with the first segment 193. Advantageously, the environmentanalysis and prediction logic 191 may monitor the movement of the objectin the environment to determine that the object is moving in real time.The real-time movement may cause the object to be positioned in thesecond segment 193 of the room. As such, the color space of the objectmay be altered according to the optimal color space of the secondsegment 193 of the room. Doing so improves the visibility and detectionof the object by devices in the environment (e.g., the camera 194,scanning device 197, apparatus 120, etc.). In some embodiments, a lineartransform may be applied to smooth the transformation of the color spaceof the object from the color space of the first segment 193 to the colorspace of the second segment 193.

In some embodiments, the environment analysis and prediction logic 191may predict the future movement of the object in the environment. Forexample, the environment analysis and prediction logic 191 may predictthe movement of the object from the first segment 193 to the secondsegment 193. In such an example, the environment analysis and predictionlogic 191 may cause the color space of the object to be altered based onthe predicted movement to the second segment 193. Further still, in someembodiments, the environment analysis and prediction logic 191 maypredict the optimal color space of one or more segments 193 according tothe color space optimization techniques described herein.

In one embodiment, environment analysis and prediction logic 191 mayreceive a predefined radius. The radius may define a radius around theobject to be monitored. In such embodiments, the environment analysisand prediction logic 191 may update the color space of the object basedon the optimal color spaces defined by one or more segments 193 withinthe predefined radius around the object.

The segments 193 may be represented by any suitable data structure. In2-dimensional embodiments, a grid structure may be used to define thesegments 193. In 3-dimensional embodiments (e.g., where multiple cameras194 are available to capture images of an environment), an octree (orquadtree) structure may be used. An octree is a tree data structure inwhich each internal node has eight child nodes. In such examples,therefore, the octree may recursively subdivide the 3-dimensionalenvironment into eight octants. Each octant may be associated with a3-dimensional point in the environment and an optimal color spacetransformation determined according to the techniques disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a clustering process 200 for thesystem 100. The clustering process 200 operates on image datasets (e.g.,the data sets 170, and/or 172 of FIG. 1) storing color data for images.

In some embodiments of the clustering process 200, color data 202 of animage undergoes a patching operation where the image is processed into aplurality of patches 204 of patched image data 206. Each patch 204 ofthe patched image data 206 includes color data in accordance with acolor space model, such as pixel data having RGB tuples, where the pixelmay represent an encoded representation of multimedia data. Theclustering process 200 further processes the patched image data 206, viaa transformation operation 208, by applying a color space transformmechanism on the color data of the patched image 206 to transformpatched image data into transformed image data of a transformed image210, where the transformed image may also represent an encodedrepresentation of multimedia data. The color data of the patched image206 is configured in accordance with the color space model and new colordata for the transformed image 210 is generated according to anothercolor space model.

In some embodiments, the clustering process 200 performs a mini-colorspace transform for at least one patch of the patched image 206,possibly leaving one or more patches without a transformation. Via thetransformation operation 208, the mini-color space transform modifiesthe color data in the at least one patch to transform patched image datainto transformed image data of a transformed image 210. The clusteringprocess 200 may perform stitching between patches to make the patchedimage 206 uniform as opposed to creating artificial edges.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a color space conversion scheme 300 inaccordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. Althoughembodiments of the conversion scheme 300 may be described according toan entire environment 315, the conversion scheme 300 may be performedfor each segment 193 of the environment 315. A histogram 318representation of a particular environment 315 is provided (where thenumbers 100, 90, 80, and 70 are intended to represent a simplifiedversion of colors distribution values of one or more colors representingthe particular object, entity, environment 315, and or segment 193 ofthe environment 315). The histogram 318 can be generated by having oneor more components of system 100 performing a scan of the environment315 and generating a histogram 318 of the most prevalent colors, leastprevalent colors, or absent colors of the environment 315 and/orsegments 193 thereof. In one or more embodiments, the histogram 318 canbe of four, six, or eight colors. Since various embodiments of thepresent disclosure expressly contemplate using colors imperceptible tothe human eye, there is no limitation on the number of colors that canbe used with respect to the histogram 318, the color space conversionsdiscussed herein, or any images generated from the color spaceconversions, including but not limited to a matrix, matrix barcode,fiducial marker, etc. can have in excess of four colors, six color, oreight colors, and four color channels, six color channels, or eightcolor channels, where the colors and/or color channels are distinct anddifferent with respect to one another.

In various embodiments, one or more components of system 100 candetermine the most prevalent colors associated with each segment 193 ofthe environment 315, and the resulting histogram 318 may be based onthat determination. The histogram 318 can be used to map the mostprevalent colors of each segment 193 to a distribution 322 associatedwith a suitable color space 324, including but not limited to an RGBcolor space 324. In various embodiments, the colors of histogram 318 ofeach segment 193 are mapped pursuant to the tristimulus values of theRGB color space, e.g., “R,” “G,” and “B.” Any suitable mathematicalconversion, e.g., linear-algebraic, etc. can be used to map theconversion to the RGB color space, e.g., convert the mapped RGB colorspace to another color space.

In various embodiments, the color channels of distribution 322 mayrepresent one or more bits of data for an encoded representation ofdata, e.g., multimedia data, where the data may be compressed orun-compressed.

In various embodiments, once the distribution 322 is mapped according tothe RGB color space 324, one or more components of system 100 canconvert the RGB distribution 322 of each segment 193 to a new colorspace 326 with a distribution 328 pursuant to the new color space 326.Any suitable color space conversion can be used, including converting toan XYZ color space, where the conversion can be pursuant to any suitablemathematical conversions and equations that govern the XYZ color space,including suitable tristimulus conversions between RGB and XYZ. Invarious embodiments, “Y” represents a luminance value of the XYZ spaceand at least one of “X” and “Z” (or both) represent a chrominance valueof the color space and an associated distribution, e.g., 326 plottedpursuant to the XYZ color space.

In various embodiments, the luminance channel “Y” is filtered outresulting in color space 328′ and distribution 326′, which can assist inmaking determinations solely on actual chromatic values associated withthe entity, object, environment 315, and/or segment 193 of theenvironment 315 without considering luminance (this is helpful at leastbecause colors can be used that are imperceptible to the human eye). Invarious embodiments, four (or more) lines can be defined by points (a1,b1), (a2, b2), (a3, b3), and (a4, b4), and are selected to have amaximum distance apart with respect to distribution 326′. In variousembodiments, the points a1, a2, a3, and a4 are selected to correspond tothe most prevalent colors associated with entity, object, or environment315 and b1, b2, b3, and b4 by extension, being opposite to those colors,may represent the least prevalent or absent colors in association withentity, object, or environment b1, b2, b3, b4. These lines may definevectors for a new color space conversion in an XYZ or other suitablecolor space 345 and may form the basis for new XYZ tristimulus values.

An image, such as a matrix or matrix barcode, can be made using colorsassociated with the new color space 350 and a distribution 345 of colorsdefined by color channel vectors (i,−i), (j, −j), (k, −k), an additionalcolor channel and all other color channels (omitted from display due tothe limitations of three-dimensional space) associated therewith. Invarious embodiments, since the colors may correspond to less prevalentor absent colors in relation to where a potential scan may occur (orwhat is being scanned), e.g., a matrix barcode on an entity or objectand/or in an environment with colors that have a maximum difference inrelation thereto, edge detection is enhanced.

Alternatively, although not expressly shown, the maximum distance fromthe most prevalent colors to least prevalent colors can be determined,e.g., a1 to b1, a2 to b2, etc., and then lines can be drawn from b1, b2,b3, and b4 in a direction tangential, parallel or opposite a vector ordirection associated with a1, a2, a3, and a4. The color channel vectors(i,−i), (j, −j), (k, −k), an additional color channel and all othercolor channels (omitted from display due to the limitations ofthree-dimensional space) associated with color space 350 may be entirelycolors absent and/or mildly prevalent in relation to entity, object,environment 315, and/or segment 193 of the environment 315, which canfurther enhance edge detection.

In various embodiments, when performing the color space conversionbetween 328′ and 350, in addition to carrying out the algebraic or othersuitable conversions associated with the XYZ color space (or subsequentcolor spaces as may be necessary, e.g., LAB), the color channel vectors,e.g., (i,−i), (j, −j), (k, −k), may be orthogonal to one another byperforming any suitable mathematical and/or orientation operation on thevectors and/or by selecting suitable points on color space 328′ anddistribution 326′ when making the conversion. In various embodiments, asecond maximum difference between one or more points can be taken inspace 350, in addition to an orientation operation to center thedistribution 345 along the axis of the newly defined color channelvectors, e.g., (i,−i), (j, −j), (k, −k), such that the color channelvectors are orthogonal and have a maximum distance in relation to oneanother. In various embodiments, performing at least one of theorthogonality operation, maximum determination, and/or orientingoperation can further enhance edge detection of an image generated forscanning, such as a matrix barcode, in relation to an entity, object, orenvironment 315 (or segment 193 thereof) to be scanned.

In various embodiments, the various color channels described above,including each vector, e.g., (−i, i), defines a first color that is aminimum in the color channel and the second color becomes the maximum.This boundary may be at least one pixel where the color changed from thefirst to the second color or vice versa. If the first color is set tozero (0) and the second color is set to two hundred and fifty-five(255), then, mathematically, this boundary may be located at pixel(s)that jumped between the minimum and maximum value; for example, theremay be sharp division (i.e., thin boundary) in which at least twoneighboring pixels transition immediately between 0 and 255. In variousembodiments, the boundary is such it may be a transition between thesecolors where, as discussed above, one or more color channel ranges areselected such that a maximum color value of one or more color channelcorresponds to a unique color value, most prevalent color value, and/orhighest color value of a target object, entity, environment, and/orsegment of the environment associated with a scan and the minimum colorvalue of the color channel corresponds to a most unique color, mostprevalent color value and/or highest color value of the scannable image,e.g., matrix, matrix barcode, and/or fiducial marker, whereadditionally, the most prevalent value and/or highest color value of thescannable image is also a least prevalent (lowest color value) and/orabsent from the target object, entity, and/or environment associatedwith the scan, or visa-versa (e.g., with respect to the maximum orminimum values).

The length of the color channel can be adjusted accordingly based on thecapabilities of the scanning and image-acquiring abilities of thevarious components, e.g., camera or video device 194, scanning device197, and/or recognition component 522-4 (discussed below with respect toFIG. 5), where the length increases the number of different colorsbetween the minimum and maximum point of the color channel.

In various embodiments, one or more additional color space conversionscan be performed at any point after a first optimization (e.g.,maximum/minimum determination has been made) with the conversioncorresponding to the XYZ coordinates, including converting to a LABcolor space using any suitable mathematical conversion for convertingXYZ coordinates to LAB coordinates. In various embodiments, sinceoptimization is associated with the XYZ coordinates and space (e.g.,based on the color space conversion), the optimization translates to theLAB coordinates and space. In various embodiments, the additionalconversion can occur before or after the filtration of the luminancechannel (as discussed herein).

In various embodiments, the conversions between the RGB color space tothe XYZ color space and/or a first converted-to (derivative) XYZ spaceto another XYZ color space can be governed by the tristimulus equations(Equation 1 below) that define the converted color space and adistribution of color space, where the value of x+y=z can be normalizedto 1.x=X/(X+Y+Z),y=Y/(X+Y+Z),z=Z/(X+Y+Z).  Equation 1.

In various embodiments, the value of “X,” “Y,” and “Z,” is dependent onthe input colors from the RGB color space (or in the case of a secondconversion, from the converting color space). Although the tristimulusvalues are three be definition, as noted above, the conversion caninvolve more than three color channels, including color channels thatdefine colors imperceptible to the human eye. In various embodiments,the conversion governed by Equation. 1 can form a key for a scanningdevice to scan an image defined by the conversion, such as a matrix,e.g., matrix barcode or fiducial marker. In various embodiments, thismeans that in addition to providing a vehicle for increasing the numbersof color channels and colors for an image to be scanned, which meansincreasing bits of information that can be encoded therein, anotherbenefit of various embodiments is offering a manner to securely encodeinformation, e.g., without knowing the equation or equations of whatcolor space govern and without knowing the input values (which are basedon the first color space associated with the entity, object, orenvironment), a successful scan cannot occur. Accordingly, in variousembodiments, the logic 160 of system 100 can cause the processor 140(and/or an application programmed to carried out the correspondingoperations) to provide a scanning device 197 with a key governed byEquation 1 in order to scan and decode an image, e.g., encoded materialon a tape, display, or other medium corresponding to encoded data (e.g.,video data, audio data, image data, spatial data (which can createthree-dimensional renderings), etc.) that is encoded pursuant to one ormore color space conversions associated with Equation 1.

Although not expressly shown, if a conversion from the converted-to(e.g., derivative) XYZ color space to another color space, e.g., LAB, isrequired, then any suitable algebraic or other mathematical equationfrom the conversion to XYZ to the other color space, e.g., LAB, can beused, and the second equation can also form a part of the key forscanning the scannable image associated therewith.

In various embodiments, the logic 160 of system 100 can cause aprocessor 140 to provide a scheme for adding either one or both of anultraviolet layer and/or an infrared layer to an image, such as amatrix, e.g., matrix barcode or fiducial marker, where the imagecontains more than one non-black or non-white colors governed by anysuitable color space. In various embodiments, the scheme may includeboth an ultraviolet layer and an infrared layer, where the ultravioletlayer may form the first layer of an image in order to take advantage ofits properties. In various embodiments, the non-black and non-whitecolors of the scannable image may be determined by one or more colorspace conversion techniques as outlined herein. In various embodiments,Non-black and non-white colors means colors that are not black or white.In various embodiments, non-black and non-white colors means colors thatare not black, white or based on a greyscale distribution.

FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of a distributed system 400. Thedistributed system 400 may distribute portions of the structure and/oroperations for the system 100 across multiple computing entities.Examples of distributed system 400 may include without limitation aclient-server architecture, a 3-tier architecture, an N-tierarchitecture, a tightly-coupled or clustered architecture, apeer-to-peer architecture, a master-slave architecture, a shareddatabase architecture, and other types of distributed systems. Theembodiments are not limited in this context.

The distributed system 400 may comprise a client device 410 and a serverdevice 420. In general, the client device 410 and/or the server device420 may be the same or similar to the apparatus 120 as described withreference to FIG. 1. For instance, the client device 410 and the serverdevice 420 may each comprise a processing component 430 which is thesame or similar to the processing circuit 440 as described withreference to FIG. 1. In another example, the devices 410, 420 maycommunicate over a communications media 412 using communications signals414 via a communications component 440.

The server device 420 may communicate with other devices over thecommunications media 412, using communications signals 414, via thecommunications component 440. The other devices may be internal orexternal to the device 420 as desired for a given implementation.

The client device 410 may comprise or employ one or more client programsthat operate to perform various methodologies in accordance with thedescribed embodiments. In one embodiment, for example, the client device410 may implement the system 100 including the logic 160 of FIG. 1,wherein various embodiments, the client device 410 can implement one ormore operations to form an image based on one or more color spaceconversions as outlined above and herein, and where the client device410 may print or instruct another the device to encode the color spaceconversion as encoded data on a physical medium.

The server device 420 may comprise or employ one or more server programsthat operate to perform various methodologies in accordance with thedescribed embodiments. In one embodiment, for example, the server device420 may implement the clustering process 200 of FIG. 2 and generateimage group model data 450 and/or generate image group model data 450 byperforming one or more of the encoding and color space conversionoperations of scheme 300. The image group model data 450 can include aprinting scheme or color distribution for an image to be scanned in anentity, object, or environment, such as a matrix, e.g., matrix barcodeor fiducial marker.

The devices 410, 420 may comprise any electronic device capable ofreceiving, processing, and sending information for the system 100.Examples of an electronic device may include without limitation anultra-mobile device, a mobile device, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a mobile computing device, a smart phone, a telephone, a digitaltelephone, a cellular telephone, ebook readers, a handset, a one-waypager, a two-way pager, a messaging device, a computer, a personalcomputer (PC), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebookcomputer, a netbook computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, aserver, a server array or server farm, a web server, a network server,an Internet server, a work station, a mini-computer, a main framecomputer, a supercomputer, a network appliance, a web appliance, adistributed computing system, multiprocessor systems, processor-basedsystems, consumer electronics, programmable consumer electronics, gamedevices, television, digital television, set top box, wireless accesspoint, base station, subscriber station, mobile subscriber center, radionetwork controller, router, hub, gateway, bridge, switch, machine, orcombination thereof. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

The devices 410, 420 may execute instructions, processing operations, orlogic for the system 100 using the processing component 430. Theprocessing component 430 may comprise various hardware elements,software elements, or a combination of both. Examples of hardwareelements may include devices, logic devices, components, processors,microprocessors, circuits, processing circuits, circuit elements (e.g.,transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, and so forth), integratedcircuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmablelogic devices (PLD), digital signal processors (DSP), field programmablegate array (FPGA), Application-specific Standard Products (ASSPs),System-on-a-chip systems (SOCs), Complex Programmable Logic Devices(CPLDs), memory units, logic gates, registers, semiconductor device,chips, microchips, chip sets, and so forth. Examples of softwareelements may include software components, programs, applications,computer programs, application programs, system programs, softwaredevelopment programs, machine programs, operating system software,middleware, firmware, software modules, routines, subroutines,functions, methods, procedures, software interfaces, application programinterfaces (API), instruction sets, computing code, computer code, codesegments, computer code segments, words, values, symbols, or anycombination thereof.

The devices 410, 420 may execute communications operations or logic forthe system 100 using communications component 440. The communicationscomponent 440 may implement any well-known communications techniques andprotocols, such as techniques suitable for use with packet-switchednetworks (e.g., public networks such as the Internet, private networkssuch as an enterprise intranet, and so forth), circuit-switched networks(e.g., the public switched telephone network), or a combination ofpacket-switched networks and circuit-switched networks (with suitablegateways and translators). The communications component 440 may includevarious types of standard communication elements, such as one or morecommunications interfaces, network interfaces, network interface cards(NIC), radios, wireless transmitters/receivers (transceivers), wiredand/or wireless communication media, physical connectors, and so forth.By way of example, and not limitation, communication media 412 includewired communications media and wireless communications media. Examplesof wired communications media may include a wire, cable, metal leads,printed circuit boards (PCB), backplanes, switch fabrics, semiconductormaterial, twisted-pair wire, co-axial cable, fiber optics, a propagatedsignal, and so forth. Examples of wireless communications media mayinclude acoustic, radio-frequency (RF) spectrum, infrared and otherwireless media.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of an operational environment 500 forthe systems 100 and/or 400. As shown in FIG. 5, the operatingenvironment 500 includes an application 520, such as an enterprisesoftware application, for processing input 510 and generating output530.

The application 520 comprises one or more components 522-a where arepresents any integer number. In one embodiment, the application 520may comprise an interface component 522-1, a clustering component 522-2,a transform mechanism library 522-3, and a recognition component 522-4.The interface component 522-1 may be generally arranged to manage a userinterface for the application 520, for example, by generating graphicaldata for presentation as a Graphical User Interface (GUI). The interfacecomponent 522-1 may generate the GUI to depict various elements, such asdialog boxes, HTML forms having rich text, and/or the like.

The clustering component 522-2 may be generally arranged to organizeimages into image groups or clusters. Some embodiments of the clusteringcomponent 522-2 execute the clustering process 200 of FIG. 2 and/or oneor more of the color space conversion operations of scheme 300 of FIG. 3and generates the image group model data 450 of FIG. 4. In variousembodiments, the clustering component 522-2 identifies, for each imagegroup, a particular color space transform having a higher likelihoodthan a current color space transform of success in edge detection forthat group as outlined herein or otherwise suitable. The clusteringcomponent 522-2 may use that scheme to encode multimedia data on one ormore physical medium, such as a tape, and using any device for doingsuch as discussed herein or otherwise suitable. In various embodiments,the clustering component 522-2 may perform the above-mentionedclustering process for a variety of edge detection techniques, resultingin sets of image groups where each set of image groups corresponds to aparticular technique. Edge detection techniques vary in how boundariesare identified in an image; some techniques detect differences in colorwhereas other techniques measure another attribute. Some techniquesdiffer with respect to how color differences are even measured. It ispossible for one technique to alter certain steps and create multipletechniques.

The color space transform library 522-3 includes a plurality of colorspace transform mechanisms and may be generally arranged to provide acolor space transform mechanism for application on an image,transforming that image into a transformed image in accordance with adifferent color space model than the image's original color space model.As described herein, the color space model refers to a technique formodeling an image's color data, such as in RGB or in LAB, or RGB to XYZ,or RGB to XYZ to another XYZ. In general, and as outlined in one or moreembodiments herein, the color space transform mechanism performsmathematical operations to map a data point within the image'soriginal/current color space model into a corresponding datapoint inaccordance with the different color space model. The transformation mayinvolve converting the datapoint's value(s)—which are in one domain—intocorresponding value(s) for the corresponding datapoint. As an example,the color space transform may convert an RGB pixel having a tuple of RGBvalues into a LAB pixel having a tuple of LAB values, an RGB pixelhaving a tuple of RGB values into an XYZ pixel having a tuple of XYZvalues, and/or an RGB pixel having a tuple of RGB values into an XYZpixel having a tuple of XYZ values and again into another XYZ pixelhaving a tuple of other XYZ values. The pixels associated with the finalconversion can define a color distribution for a scannable image, suchas a matrix or matrix barcode that is used for a scan in associationwith an entity, object, or environment.

The recognition component 522-4, such as a suitable scanner, printerand/or camera or application for the same, may be generally arranged toexecute an edge detection technique as part of a recognition operationon the transformed image. One example of a well-known recognitionoperation is Optical Character Recognition (OCR). The application 520invokes the recognition component 522-4 to perform various tasksincluding scanning a matrix, e.g., matrix barcode or fiducial marker,for verifying an authenticity of an item and/or to obtain encodedinformation associated with the barcode. The recognition component 522-4can be configured to contain a key, e.g., a mathematical equation orequations with specified inputs defining a color space conversion, suchthat it scans relevant colors reflected by the barcode, where the colorsare based on one or more color space transformation techniques asoutlined herein, where the key defines a final transformation thatdefines color channels and a color space associated with colors of thescannable image, and where color channels defined by the key eachrepresent at least one bit of encoded data.

In various embodiments, the recognition component 522-4 can print orprovide a schema for printing an image, e.g., barcode and/or fiducialmarker, that contains one or more non-black and non-white colors and oneor both of an ultraviolet layer and an infrared layer. The colorchannels associated with each non-black and non-white color each canconstitute at least one bit of data, and each one of the infrared andultraviolet layers can each constitute one bit of data. In variousembodiments, each one of the non-black and non-white colors aregenerated by a color space transformation mechanism or technique and arescannable by a key associated with the transformation mechanism. Invarious embodiments, the number of color channels can be adjusted to begreater than or equal to four color channels, as the recognitioncomponent 522-4 can be adjusted to scan any number of colors, includingcolors not perceptible to the human eye.

In various embodiments, the non-black and non-white color channel can beused in conjunction with one or both of the infrared or ultravioletlayers on a scannable image, such as a matrix, matrix barcode and/orfiducial marker, where each of one of the color channels, ultravioletlayer(s), and/or infrared layer(s) represent a bit of data and adifferent manner of encoding data into the image, and as such, six ormore bits of data can be encoded into the image. In various embodiments,the ultraviolet layer may be printed or displayed first in relation tothe infrared layers and the various layers associated with non-black andnon-white color channels to take advantage of the ultraviolet layer'sproperties.

In various embodiments, the image containing all or one of the layersassociated with the non-black and non-white color channel layers, theultraviolet layers, and the infrared layers can be scanned by therecognition component 522-4 for a verification component, where therecognition component 522-4 may contain or receive a key that is basedon an equation related to a color space conversion, e.g., Equation 1,where the color space conversion reveals the relevant color channelswith associated colors containing the information, in addition to one ormore verification bits indicating whether the presence or absence of anultraviolet and/or infrared layer is indicative of encoded information.Accordingly, the key and/or verification bit provides a manner ofdecoding information.

In various embodiments, application 520 is configured to contain the keyand/or verification bit and provide an output 530 once the scan of theimage, e.g., barcode, is verified locally. In various embodiments, therecognition component 522-4 can require an additional verification stepof contacting a host system that contains one or more of thefunctionalities of system 100, to confirm, e.g., by one or morecomparison steps, that the key and/or verification bit used by therecognition component 522-4 is accurate. If the key is accurate, and thescan is confirmed by the recognition component 522-4, then the output530 of application 520 is one or more access, transfer, or receipt ofinformation, including currency, personal, and/or financial information,to another entity.

In various embodiments, scanning the image, e.g., matrix, a matrixbarcode, and/or fiducial marker can be done to protect a user fromfinancial misappropriation. The recognition component 522-4 may performthe text or image recognition operation to determine whether the image,e.g., barcode, is valid, and relates the validity of the scan to averification or access of information that includes any sensitiveinformation, such as a password or social security number (SSN),according to some embodiments. The application 520 may invoke therecognition component 522-4 to scan an image, e.g., a barcode, prior topublishing social network content such that a potential failure toproperly scan the image, e.g., the component scanning the image does nothave a key that properly decodes it pursuant to the key related to thecolor space information and/or the bit indicating that an ultravioletand/or infrared layer contains information, identification of sensitiveinformation in that content prevents said publishing. In various otherembodiments, the scanning of the image, e.g., barcode, can provideinitiation of a financial transaction, e.g., transfer of any suitableelectronic funds.

FIG. 6A illustrates one technique 600A of forming a scannable image inaccordance with at least one embodiments of the present disclosure.Scannable image layers 605 a, 610 a, and 615 a each represent a layer ofa scannable image, such as a barcode, associated with one or morecolors. Any suitable component as disclosed herein may perform one ormore color space transformation techniques on each scannable imagelayers 605 a, 610 a, 615 a in order to produce layers 620 a, 625 a, and630 a, and layers 620 a, 625 a, and 630 a may be consolidated into asingle scannable image, e.g., barcode, 635 a. In various embodiments,the scannable layers 620 a, 625 a, and 630 a may each be associated witha color channel that represents one or more colors that are absentand/or not prevalent in relation to a target that may be associated withthe scannable image 635 a, wherein various embodiments one or more colorchannels associated with colors of 620 a, 625 a, and 630 a may beorthogonal or perpendicular in relation to one another and with respectto color spaces representing those colors. The scannable image 635 a canbe printed on a physical surface of a target using any suitable deviceand/or generated by any suitable computing device for display on acomputer display.

Although the embodiment of FIG. 6A illustrates performing atransformation technique with respect to color schemes that areassociated with existing scannable image layers 605 a, 610 a, and/or 615a, scannable image 635 a can be generated from scratch withoutconverting from existing images, e.g., a target can be scanned, colorspaces associated therewith determined therefrom, and a final scannableimage 635 a can be produced by performing one or more color spacetransformations on the color spaces as disclosed herein or otherwisesuitable.

FIG. 6B illustrates one technique 600B of forming a scannable image inaccordance with at least one embodiments of the present disclosure.Scannable image layers 605 b, 610 b, and 615 b each represent a layer ofa scannable image, such as a barcode, associated with one or morecolors. Any suitable component as disclosed herein may perform one ormore color space transformation techniques on each scannable imagelayers 605 b, 610 b, 615 b in order to produce layers 620 b, 625 b, and630 b, and layers 620 b, 625 b, and 630 b may be consolidated into asingle scannable image 635 b, e.g., barcode, 635 b. In variousembodiments, the scannable layers 620 b, 625 b, and 630 b may each beassociated with a color channel that represents one or more colors thatare absent and/or not prevalent in relation to a target that may beassociated with the scannable image 635 b, wherein various embodimentsone or more color channels associated with colors of 620 b, 625 b, and630 b may be orthogonal or perpendicular in relation to one another andwith respect to color spaces representing those colors. In variousembodiments, at least one layer, e.g., 630 b, can be made withultraviolet or infrared ink or generated using ultraviolet or infraredlight such that it contains an additional channel of information, e.g.,an ultraviolet layer or infrared layer of information, which can absorb,reflect, project, and/or illuminate ultraviolet or infrared light,wherein various embodiments the ultraviolet layer or infrared layer 630b may be the first layer of image 635 b. In various embodiments, theultraviolet or infrared layer 630 b may contain a color channel layerrepresenting various colors, including colors that are not prevalentand/or absent from a target to be associated with the scannable image635 b, and in various embodiments, only an ultraviolet channel may beassociated with the ultraviolet layer 630 b.

In various embodiments, the scannable image 635 b can be printed on aphysical surface of a target using any suitable device and/or generatedby any suitable computer device for display on a computer display.

In various embodiments, the scannable image 635 b is a fiducial markerthat takes advantage of the inherent orienting features of ultravioletand/or infrared light when being scanned by a suitable device that candetect either one or both of ultraviolet and/or infrared light. Invarious embodiments, when a suitable device, e.g., scanning device 197,scans a fiducial marker 635 b that reflects ultraviolet and/or infraredlight, the spatial relationship of the object associated with thefiducial maker 635 b, e.g., an object with the fiducial marker labeledthereon and/or a computer display generating the fiducial marker 635 b,in relation to the scanning device 197 and other objects in anenvironment containing the device is easier to ascertain because of theinherent properties associated with the reflection and detection ofultraviolet and/or infrared light.

FIG. 6C illustrates one technique 600C of forming a scannable image inaccordance with at least one embodiments of the present disclosure.Scannable image layers 605 c, 610 c, 615 c, and 620 c each represent alayer of a scannable image, such as a barcode, associated with one ormore colors. Any suitable component as disclosed herein may perform oneor more color space transformation techniques on each scannable imagelayers 605 c, 610 c, 615 c, and 620 c in order to produce layers 625 c,630 c, 635 c and 640 c, and layers 625 c, 630 c, 635 c and 640 c may beconsolidated into a single scannable image, e.g., barcode, 645 c. Invarious embodiments, the scannable layers 625 c, 630 c, 635 c and 640 cmay each be associated with a color channel that represents one or morecolors that are absent and/or not prevalent in relation to a target thatmay be associated with the scannable image 645 c, wherein variousembodiments one or more color channels associated with colors of 625 c,630 c, 635 c and 640 c may be orthogonal or perpendicular in relation toone another and with respect to color spaces representing those colors.

In various embodiments, at least one layer, e.g., 635 c, can be madewith infrared ink or generated using infrared light such that itcontains an additional channel of information, e.g., an ultravioletlayer of information, which can absorb, reflect, project, and/orilluminate infrared light, wherein various embodiments the infraredlayer 630 c may be the first layer of image 635 c. In variousembodiments, the infrared layer 630 c may contain a color channel layerrepresenting various colors, including colors that are not prevalentand/or absent from a target to be associated with the scannable image645 c, and in various embodiments, only an infrared channel may beassociated with the infrared layer 630 c. In various embodiments, atleast one layer, e.g., 640 c, can be made with ultraviolet ink orgenerated using ultraviolet light such that it contains an additionalchannel of information, e.g., an ultraviolet layer of information, whichcan absorb, reflect, project, and/or illuminate ultraviolet light,wherein various embodiments the ultraviolet layer 640 c may be the firstlayer of image 645 c. In various embodiments, the ultraviolet layer 640c may contain a color channel layer representing various colors,including colors that are not prevalent and/or absent from a target tobe associated with the scannable image 645 c, and in variousembodiments, only an ultraviolet channel may be associated with theultraviolet layer 640 c.

In various embodiments, the scannable image 645 c is a fiducial markerthat takes advantage of the inherent orienting features of ultravioletand/or infrared light when being scanned by a suitable device that candetect either one or both of ultraviolet and/or infrared light. Invarious embodiments, when a suitable device, e.g., scanning device 197,scans a fiducial marker 645 c that reflects both ultraviolet andinfrared light, the spatial relationship of the object associated withthe fiducial maker 645 c, e.g., an object with the fiducial markerlabeled thereon and/or a computer display generating the fiducial marker645 c, in relation to the scanning device 197 and other objects in anenvironment containing the device is easier to ascertain or detectbecause of the inherent properties associated with the reflection anddetection of ultraviolet and/or infrared light. In various embodiments,where fiducial marker 645 c utilizes both ultraviolet and infraredlight, the presence of both operates as a fail-safe if the functionalityof the scanning device 197 is compromised, and/or if an initial scanfails to detect one or the other.

In various embodiments, the scannable image 645 c may include both aninfrared layer 635 c and an ultraviolet layer 640 c, where the printingor generating of layer 645 c may be such that the ultraviolet layer 640c may be the first layer in order to take advantage of thecharacteristics associated with ultraviolet light. Although at least oneembodiment provided above indicates that either one or both of layers635 c and 640 c can include color channel information, e.g., scannablecolors that have a relationship with a target, in various embodiments,layers 635 c and 640 c can be associated strictly with infrared and/orultraviolet information respectively. Moreover, in various embodiments,the colors of layer 620 c, 625 c, and 630 c do not have to be layer thathas a relationship with the target, and in various embodiments, saidlayers can be composed of black and white colors and/or other colorsunrelated to the target and/or not based on color space conversiontechniques.

FIG. 7A illustrates a computer or tablet system 700A for generating andscanning a scannable image 740. In various embodiments, although system700A is illustrated as a tablet system, it may be another computerdevice, such as a personal user computer, laptop, or any other suitablecomputer device, and the tablet system 700A may be configured to carryout one or more operations of FIG. 1. The tablet system includes atablet 702 for generating a scannable image 740, e.g., barcode, wherethe tablet 702 includes applications 705A-E, application N, andapplication 520, where one embodiment of application 520 is described ingreater detail above with respect to FIG. 5. In various embodiments oneor more of the applications 705A-E may carry out one or more operationsassociated with FIG. 1. The tablet 702 may include one or more userinterface devices 720 which a user can use to interface with the tablet702. The tablet 702 can generate a scannable image 740 that includes oneor both of an ultraviolet and infrared layer. The tablet 702 can beconfigured to ensure that the top layer is an ultraviolet layer to takeadvantage of the properties inherent with ultraviolet light. Thescannable image 740 can further include one or more colors layer,including white and black layers. The scannable image 740 can furtherinclude one or more non-black and non-white colors layers that arerelated to colors associated with the environment where the tablet islocated, e.g., the tablet can be configured to have a camera with anapplication, e.g., 420, that can scan an environment and produce ascannable image 740 with colors related to that environment and/orsegment 193 of the environment. In various embodiments, the colorsrelated to the environment can be colors based on one or more colorspace transformation techniques as discussed herein, including colorsthat are least prevalent and/or absent from the environment containingthe tablet 702 and determined by one or more color space conversions.Similarly, the color space transformation techniques may modify thecolor spaces of the scannable image 740 as the scannable image 740 movesfrom one segment 193 to another segment 193 of an environment.

The system 700A can further include a camera or scanning device c750that can scan the scannable image 740, wherein various embodiments thecamera or scanning device c750 may include application 520 (as discussedabove), and/or a color space key and/or infrared verification bit and/orultraviolet verification bit as disclosed herein, and in order toperform a valid scan of scannable image 740 and/or obtain any encodedinformation associated therewith.

FIG. 7B illustrates a computer or tablet system 700B for generatingand/or scanning a scannable image 741 and using the scannable image forproviding orientation for industrial, robotic, or computer equipment(e.g., a virtual-reality system). In various embodiments, althoughsystem 700B is illustrated as a tablet system, it may be anothercomputer device, such as a personal user computer, laptop, or any othersuitable computer device, and the tablet system 700B may be configuredto carry out one or more operations of FIG. 1. The tablet systemincludes a tablet 702 for generating a scannable image 740, e.g.,barcode, where the tablet 702 includes applications 705A-E, applicationN, and application 520, where one embodiment of application 520 isdescribed in greater detail above with respect to FIG. 5. In variousembodiments, one or more of the applications 705A-E may carry out one ormore operations associated with FIG. 1. The tablet 702 may include oneor more user interface devices 720 which a user can use to interfacewith the tablet 702. The tablet 702 can generate a scannable image 740that includes one or both of an ultraviolet and infrared layer. Thetablet 702 can be configured to ensure that the top layer is anultraviolet layer to take advantage of the properties inherent withultraviolet light. The scannable image 741, e.g., fiducial marker, canfurther include one or more colors layer, including white and blacklayers. The scannable image 741 can further include one or morenon-black and non-white colors layers that are related to colorsassociated with the environment where the tablet is located, e.g., thetablet can be configured to have a camera with an application, e.g.,420, that can scan an environment and produce a scannable image 741 withcolors related to that environment and/or colors related to each segment193 of the environment. In various embodiments, the colors related tothe environment and/or segment 193 of the environment can be colorsbased on one or more color space transformation techniques as discussedherein, including colors that are least prevalent and/or absent from theenvironment containing the tablet 702 and determined by one or morecolor space conversions.

The system 700B can further include a camera or scanning device c750that can scan the scannable image 741, wherein various embodiments thecamera or scanning device c750 may include application 520 (as discussedabove), and/or a color space key and/or infrared verification bit and/orultraviolet verification bit as disclosed herein, and in order toperform a valid scan of scannable image 740 and/or obtain any encodedinformation associated therewith.

The system 700B can further include one or more scanning or cameradevices 775, one or more servers 774, a network 770 for facilitatingcommunication between and amongst the various components of system 700B,and a device configurable with a fiducial marker 774 (hereinafterreferred to as “fiducial device 772”). In various embodiments, anenvironment 701 containing the tablet 702 and associated with tabletsystem 700B is shown. In various embodiments, displayed image 741 is afiducial marker. In various embodiments, the functions of one or morescanning or camera devices 775 and/or camera and/or scanning device c750may be carried out by a camera, scanning, or other suitable device (notshown) that is part of tablet 702. In various embodiments, the functionsof one or more scanning or camera devices 775 may be carried out by acamera device or scanning device c750. In various, the environment forpurposes of scanning and optimization in terms of altering the fiducialmarker (as discussed herein) can be a proximate portion 780 of theoverall environment 701 in relation to the tablet 702. Although shown asa tablet 702, the tablet 702 can be a computer, a camera that can beprogrammed with one or more computer operations, a laptop, or any othersuitable computing device.

In various embodiments, the tablet 702 displays a marker useful for adevice to use the marker as a point of spatial reference, e.g., afiducial marker 741. The tablet 702 may directly transmit the fiducialmarker 741 to a device 774 that can detect the marker or utilize it inrelation to another object, such as one or more scanning or cameradevices 775 to orient itself and take an action with respect to theanother object. The device may be a fiducial device 772, such as anaugmented reality device, a virtual reality device, and/or a robotconfigured to take a physical action with respect to other objectsassociated with the environment 701. Whatever type of fiducial device772 is utilized, in various embodiments, detection of the fiducialdevice 772 by another device communicating with the fiducial device 772,e.g., one or more camera devices 775 or any other suitable deviceassociated with the environment 701 may be important, as receipt of databy the fiducial device 772 and orientation of the fiducial device 772 inrelation to the data providing device may be important for the fiducialdevice 772 to carry out its functions. For example, if the fiducialdevice 772 is a robot for taking an action in the environment 701, theone or more camera devices 775 may feed the fiducial device 772 withimage data acquired by scanning the environment (directly or indirectlyby the tablet 702 receiving the data and tram sitting it to the fiducialdevice 772), where the image data may provide the robot 772 with theinformation it requires to move in the environment 701 and take anappropriate action in the environment 701, e.g., contact or move anobject in associated therewith. Proper detection of the fiducial marker741 which is transmitted to fiducial device 772 by a data providingdevice, such as the tablet 702, the one or more cameras 775, and/or anyother component of system 700B and/or any other component that may be inenvironment 701 can allow the fiducial device to orient itself withrespect to that device or otherwise better perform a spatial action. Byway of another example, if the fiducial device 772 is an augmentedreality system associated with a user the one or more camera device 775may provide the augmented reality device with information that isrelevant to coordinating user movement in the real environment 701 inrelation to a virtual environment associated with the augmented realitysystem 772 (e.g., this may prevent the user from feeling a physicaldiscomfort, such as dizziness). Accordingly, proper detection of thefiducial device 772 by the relevant component associated with theenvironment 701 may be important in various contexts at least becausethe fiducial device may perform a spatial orientation action thatenhances its performance and functionality.

In various embodiments, the tablet 702 may transmit the color space andcolor distribution associated with the displayed fiducial marker 741 toone or more servers 774, where the one or more servers 774 may transmitthe data associated with the fiducial marker 741 to the fiducial device772, which may have a display of its own that can display and reproducethe fiducial marker 741 and/or otherwise utilize the data for properdetection.

In various embodiments, the one or more scanning or camera devices 775continuously scan the environment 701 to determine if the colors andassociated color space of the environment changes, e.g., new colors areintroduced, colors are altered, and/or any other change occurs whichresults in the color profile of the environment 701 changing. Inresponse to detecting a change in the environment 701, the one or morescanning or camera devices 775 may transmit the image data associatedwith changed environment 701 to the tablet 702.

In various embodiments, the one or more scanning or camera devices 775continuously scan the environment 701 to segment the environment 701into a plurality of segments 193. An optimal color space may bedetermined for each segment 193 of the environment according to thetechniques described herein. The one or more scanning or camera devices775 continuously scan the environment 701 to detect the movement of anobject, e.g., the fiducial marker 741 and/or a device or other mediumdisplaying the fiducial marker 741. As the position of the fiducialmarker 741 moves in the environment, the fiducial marker 741 may bemodified to have the color space of the segment 193 in which thefiducial marker 741 is located. In some embodiments, the future locationof the marker 741 may be predicted (e.g., a different segment 193 thanthe current segment 193), and the fiducial marker 741 may be modified tohave the color space of the predicted segment 193.

In some embodiments, the scanning or camera devices 775 may uselocalization techniques to determine which color space should be usedwhen attempting to detect a fiducial marker 741. For example, thescanning or camera devices 775 may leverage the techniques used todetermine optimal color spaces for a given segment 193 of theenvironment. One such example includes using the best color space (e.g.,determined according to FIGS. 2-3) for optimal detection in a givensegment 193. In another example, such color spaces may be defined in anapplication (e.g., one of the applications of the apparatus 120, theapplications 705A-E, application 520, etc.). The color spaces may bedefined according to one or more markers. For example, for a firstsegment 193 of the environment, the applications may store a definitionindicating an example colorspace of “X” is used. Similarly, theapplications may store a definition indicating an example colorspace of“Y” should be the next attempted colorspace (e.g., if using colorspace Xdoes not result in detection of a fiducial marker, attempt to usecolorspace Y).

In various embodiments, whether the initial fiducial marker 741 wasdisplayed as a colored fiducial marker that had colors that were notblack, white, or based on a greyscale and/or subject to a color spaceoptimization technique as discussed herein or whether the initialfiducial marker 741 was any kind of fiducial marker 741, once theenvironment 701 changes, the tablet 702 (e.g., by any of applications705A-705E) may receive image data associated with the change from theone or more camera devices 775, and perform any of the operationsassociated with color space transformations, color space conversions,and image processing as discussed herein, or any other color spaceoptimization techniques, including but not limited to techniquesdirected to generating color spaces that do not contain black, white, orgreyscale colors after all conversions associated with the techniquehave taken place. In various embodiments, the one or more color spaceoptimization techniques employed by the tablet 702 produce a color spacefor an altered displayed fiducial marker 741 that is optimized fordetection in the altered environment 701, e.g., a detection enhancementoccurs with respect to scanning or camera device c750, one or more orscanning devices or cameras 775, or any other suitable detection deviceassociated with environment 750. The altered fiducial marker 741 may beused by the tablet 702 to enhance a spatial orientation operationassociated therewith and/or it may be transmitted to a fiducial device772, which may display it (e.g., regenerate it on a display associatedwith fiducial device 772 after receiving the data associated with theoptimized color space form the tablet 702) or otherwise utilize it toenhance a spatial orientation and/or physical movement operation. Invarious embodiments, the operations of the tablet 702 may be carried outdirectly by the fiducial device 772 as outlined herein, includingaccepting and receiving image data from the one or more camera andscanning devices 775, performing color space optimization techniques,and displaying the fiducial (and altered fiducial) marker 741.

In various embodiments, the environment 701 and/or the location of thefiducial maker 741 may continually change according to a time intervalor other schedule (or the environment can change based on random events)and the displayed fiducial marker 741 can continually be altered basedon the techniques discussed herein, such that each iteration of thefiducial marker 741 is optimized in relation to the environment (orsegment 193 thereof) according to any one of the optimization techniquesdiscussed herein. For example, each displayable iteration of the altered(and alterable fiducial marker 741, e.g., it can be changed continuouslyin response to environmental changes), where every displayable iterationof the alterable fiducial marker includes at least four colors, each ofthe four colors being different with respect to one another and to atleast one prevalent color in a most recent change in the environment,where each of the four colors being different with respect to oneanother and at least one of the four colors being a color absent from amost recent change environment 701, and where each of the four colorsbeing derived from a color space associated with a filtered luminancechannel. The fiducial marker 741 (altered or otherwise) can also haveone or more infrared or ultraviolet layers, wherein various embodimentsthe ultraviolet layer can be as a top layer to optimize detection. Invarious embodiments, the fiducial marker 741 (altered or otherwise) canbe as described or can be derived as described with respect to anymatrix-code or barcode as described herein and may have a color spacederived utilizing any of the color space or image processing techniquesas discussed herein.

In various embodiments, one or more devices or components of FIG. 7B,including the tablet 702, the fiducial device 772, the camera and/orscanning devices 775, and/or any other suitable devices associated withFIG. 7B can be configured to transmit, ingest, or process environmentalcolor changes and transmit them to one another as necessary to ensureproper detection of environmental changes, e.g., they can be configuredto scan the environment and transmit an associated histogram of theenvironment based on a pre-defined timing interval and/or based ondetecting a spectral change of a certain magnitude. In variousembodiments, appropriate mathematical operations are performed at therelevant processing device, e.g., the tablet 702 displaying a fiducialmarker, to process the various histograms (e.g., an appropriatemathematical averaging technique) to determine an accuraterepresentation of the environment, e.g., environment 701 or part of anenvironment 780, and in responses thereto, perform the color spaceoptimization techniques (as discussed herein) to alter the displayedfiducial marker, e.g., 741, to be optimized in relation to theenvironmental changes.

In various embodiments, the environmental change or change constitutingthe change in which the one or more fiducial markers, e.g., 741, can beprocessed (e.g., pursuant to a color space conversion technique asdescribed herein) for alteration and optimization in relation to thechange or changes can be based on a suitable histogram averagingtechnique processed into a single histogram representing theenvironmental changes as a whole, e.g., a single histogram developedtherefrom. In various embodiments, based on that consolidated-averagedhistogram and color space representation associated therewith, one ormore color space conversion (e.g., as discussed herein) can be performedwith respect to the color space (and color space distribution) of theone or more fiducial markers 741, and can be performed to optimizedetection of the one or more markers in relation to the environmentalchanges.

FIG. 7C illustrates an augmented reality system 700C using one or morescannable images and color space conversion techniques as illustratedherein. The system 700C may include one or more devices, including atablet 702, camera or scanning devices 775, and other suitable devicesfor generating and/or scanning one or more scannable images 741, 742-1through 742-N (which may be collectively referenced to using numeral742) and using the scannable images for providing orientation for anaugmented reality device 773 and/or updating a mesh associatedtherewith. Any one of the suitable devices of 700C, including the tablet702 and/or augmented reality device 773, can carry out any operations ofFIGS. 1-6C. The tablet 702 can include applications 705A-E, applicationN, and application 520, where one embodiment of application 520 isdescribed in greater detail above with respect to FIG. 5. Although shownas a tablet 702, the tablet 702 can be a computer, a camera that can beprogrammed with one or more computer operations, a laptop, or any othersuitable computing device.

In various embodiments, one or more of the applications 705A-E may carryout one or more operations associated with FIG. 1. The tablet 702 mayinclude one or more user interface devices 720 which a user can use tointerface with the tablet 702. The tablet 702 can generate a scannableimage 741 that includes one or both of an ultraviolet and infraredlayer. The tablet 702 can be configured to ensure that the top layer isan ultraviolet layer to take advantage of the properties inherent withultraviolet light. The scannable image 741, e.g., fiducial marker, canfurther include one or more colors layer, including white and blacklayers. The scannable image 741 can further include one or morenon-black and non-white colors layers that are related to colorsassociated with the environment (and/or segment 193 thereof) where thetablet is located, e.g., the tablet can be configured to have a camerawith an application, e.g., 420, that can scan an environment and producea scannable image 741 with colors related to that environment. Invarious embodiments, the colors related to the environment can be colorsbased on one or more color space transformation techniques as discussedherein, including colors that are least prevalent and/or absent from theenvironment containing the tablet 702 and determined by one or morecolor space conversions.

In various embodiments, the tablet 702 and/or any other component ofsystem 700C, such as cameras 775, can generate multiple other scannableimages 742. The scannable images 742 can be of the same or differenttype as described with respect to scannable image 741. Although notexpressly shown, the fiducial markers can be located on or otherwiseassociated with various entities in the environment 701, e.g., camera775, camera or scanning device c750, users 750 a, 750 b (e.g., wearingarticles of clothing with one or more fiducial markers thereon for thepurpose of enhancing the augmented reality experience), etc.

The system 700C can further include a camera or scanning device c750that can scan the scannable image 741, wherein various embodiments thecamera or scanning device c750 may include application 520 (as discussedabove), and/or a color space key and/or infrared verification bit and/orultraviolet verification bit as disclosed herein, and in order toperform a valid scan of scannable image 740 and/or obtain any encodedinformation associated therewith.

The system 700C can further include one or more scanning or cameradevices 775, one or more servers 774, a network 770 for facilitatingcommunication between and amongst the various components of system 700C,and an augmented reality device 773. In various embodiments, anenvironment 701 containing the associated components of system 700C. Invarious embodiments, displayed image 741 is a fiducial marker. Invarious embodiments, displayed images 742 are also fiducial markers thatcan be the same type (e.g., same color space distribution) or differenttype (e.g., same color space distribution) from the fiducial marker 741.However, each different fiducial marker 741, 742 may be coloredaccording to the color space of the segment 193 of the environment 701the marker is positioned in. In various embodiments, the functions ofone or more scanning or camera devices 775 and/or camera and/or scanningdevice c750 may be carried out by a camera, scanning, or other suitabledevice (not shown) that is part of tablet 702, and can includeprojecting one or more fiducial markers 742 that can be used to orientthe augmented device 773 and/or permitting the augmented reality device773 to update an associated augmented reality mesh produced by augmentedreality device 773. In various embodiments, the functions of one or morescanning or camera devices 775 may be carried out by camera device orscanning device c750. In various embodiments, the environment forpurposes of scanning and optimization in terms of altering the fiducialmarker (as discussed herein) can be a proximate portion 780 of theoverall environment 701 in relation to the tablet 702.

As stated, in various embodiments, the one or more scanning or cameradevices 775 continuously scan the environment 701 to segment theenvironment 701 into a plurality of segments 193. An optimal color spacemay be determined for each segment 193 of the environment according tothe techniques described herein. The one or more scanning or cameradevices 775 continuously scan the environment 701 to detect the movementof an object, e.g., the fiducial markers 741, 742 and/or a device orother medium displaying the fiducial markers 741, 742. As the positionof the fiducial markers 741, 742 moves in the environment, the fiducialmarkers 741, 742 may be modified to have the color space of the segment193 in which the fiducial markers 741, 742 are located (not all segmentsdepicted for the sake of clarity). In some embodiments, the futurelocation of a given marker 741, 742 may be predicted (e.g., a differentsegment 193 than the current segment 193), and the fiducial markers 741,742 may be modified to have the color space of the predicted segment193. For example, as shown, the fiducial markers 742-1 through 742-N maybe displayed in the environment 701. However, each marker 742-1 through742-N may be in a different segment 193 of the environment 701.Therefore, each marker 742-1 through 742-N may be colored according tothe optimal color space for each segment 193 in which the correspondingmarker 742-1 through 742-N is positioned. Furthermore, if the locationof a given fiducial marker 742-1 through 742-N changes in real-time, thecolor space of the fiducial marker 742-1 through 742-N may be changedaccordingly. For example, if the fiducial marker 742-1 moves to thesegment 193-3 where marker 742-3 is located, the color space of thefiducial marker 742-1 may be changed to have the color space associatedwith the segment 193-3 where fiducial marker 742-3 is located. In suchembodiments, the color space of the fiducial marker 742-1 may be changedto have the color space associated with segment 193-3 and/or thefiducial marker 742-3. Similarly, if fiducial marker 742-4 moves tosegment 193-5, the fiducial marker 742-4 may be changed to have thecolor space associated with segment 193-5 and/or the fiducial marker742-5.

In various embodiments, the tablet 702 displays or projects one or moremarkers useful for a device, e.g., augmented reality device 743, to usethe one or more markers as a point of spatial reference, e.g., afiducial marker 741 and/or at least one of the fiducial markers 742-1through 742-N, for performing an orientation operation, and with respectto augmented reality device 743, updating a mesh in relation to devices,objects, and/or users 750 a,750 b in the environment 701. In variousembodiments the or more scanning or camera devices 775 and/or cameraand/or scanning device c750 can also display or project at least one ofthe one or more markers 743 useful for a device, e.g., augmented realitydevice 743, to use the one or more markers 743 as a point of spatialreference, e.g., a fiducial marker 741, for performing an orientationoperation, and with respect to augmented reality device 743, updating amesh in relation to devices, objects, and/or users in the environment701.

The tablet 702, one or more scanning or camera devices 775 and/or cameraand/or scanning device c750 may directly transmit the fiducial markers741, 742 to a device 773 that can detect the marker or utilize it inorder to update an augmented reality mesh that is useful for a user orusers 750 a, 750 b enjoying the services. In various embodiments, theaugmented reality device 772 is an augmented reality system associatedwith a user the one or more camera device 775 may provide the augmentedreality device with information that is relevant to coordinating usermovement in the real environment 701 in relation to a virtualenvironment associated with the augmented reality system 772 (e.g., thismay prevent the user from feeling a physical discomfort, such asdizziness). Accordingly, proper detection of the fiducial device 772 bythe relevant component associated with the environment 701 may beimportant in various contexts at least because the fiducial device mayperform a spatial orientation action that enhances its performance andfunctionality.

In various embodiments, the tablet 702 or any of the other suitabledevices may transmit the color space and color distribution associatedwith the displayed fiducial marker 741 or other fiducial markers 742 toone or more servers 774, where the one or more servers 774 may transmitthe data associated with the fiducial marker 741 to the augmentedreality system 743, which may have a display of its own that can displayand reproduce the fiducial marker 741 and/or otherwise utilize the datafor proper detection.

In various embodiments, the one or more scanning or camera devices 775continuously scan the environment 701 to determine if the colors andassociated color space of the environment changes, e.g., new colors areintroduced, colors are altered, and/or any other change occurs whichresults in the color profile of the environment 701 changing. Inresponse to detecting a change in the environment 701, the one or morescanning or camera devices 775 may transmit the image data associatedwith changed environment 701 (or a part of the environment, e.g., 780)to the tablet 702. In various embodiments, the camera devices 775 cancontain suitable functionality, e.g., as provided for in FIG. 1, toperform color space conversion and image processing techniques, toproject or display the one or more fiducial markers 742 and performcolor space conversion in response to the scanned and/or detectedchanges in the environment, which can then result in changing the colorspace associated with at least one of the additional fiducial markers742.

In various embodiments, whether the initial fiducial marker 741 or otherinitial fiducial markers 742 (prior to converting the color spaces) weredisplayed and projected (as suitable by the one or more devices of FIG.7C) as a colored fiducial marker or markers that had colors that werenot black, white, or based on a greyscale and/or subject to a colorspace optimization technique as discussed herein or whether the initialfiducial marker 741 was any kind of fiducial marker 741, once theenvironment 701 changes, the tablet 702 or other suitable device (e.g.,by any of applications 705A-705E or as otherwise suitable) may receiveimage data associated with the change from the one or more cameradevices 775, and perform any of the operations associated with colorspace transformations, color space conversions, and image processing asdiscussed herein, or any other color space optimization techniques,including but not limited to techniques directed to generating colorspaces that do not contain black, white, or greyscale colors after allconversions associated with the technique have taken place.

In various embodiments, with respect to at least one of the one or morefiducial markers 742, the camera devices 775 (or any other device ofsystem 700C) can be configured to have the necessary functionality, asdescribed herein, to update the markers 742, e.g., whether the otherinitial fiducial markers 742 (prior to converting the color spaces) weredisplayed and projected (as suitable by the one or more devices of FIG.7C) as a colored fiducial marker or markers 742 that had colors thatwere not black, white, or based on a greyscale and/or subject to a colorspace optimization technique as discussed herein or whether the initialfiducial markers 742 were any kind of fiducial marker 742, once theenvironment 701 changes, the cameras 775 or other suitable device mayreceive image data (or obtain the data directly by scanning theenvironment 701) associated with the change from the any suitable deviceof 700 c (including from one camera 775 to another camera 775), andperform any of the operations associated with color spacetransformations, color space conversions, and image processing asdiscussed herein, or any other color space optimization techniques,including but not limited to techniques directed to generating colorspaces that do not contain black, white, or greyscale colors after allconversions associated with the technique have taken place.

In various embodiments, the one or more color space optimizationtechniques employed by the tablet 702, cameras 775, or other suitabledevice produce a color space for an altered displayed fiducial marker741, 742 that is optimized for detection in the altered environment 701,e.g., a detection enhancement occurs with respect to scanning or cameradevice c750, one or more or scanning devices or cameras 775, or anyother suitable detection device associated with environment 701. Invarious embodiments, the augmented device 773 can use the fiducialmarkers 741, 742 to perform an orientation operation and/or otherwiseupdate the mesh associated with the virtual reality experience. Forexample, movement in the environment 701 and/or movement of objects orentities in the environment, e.g., when the fiducial markers are on theobjects or entities and the objects or entities move and/or when lightis interrupted in relation to the fiducial markers 741, 742 as a resultof a blocking or revealing of a line of sight (e.g., of the augmentedreality device 773) based on movement in the environment 701, are moreeasily detectable because the fiducial markers 741,742 are more easilydetectable in relation to the environmental changes, e.g., at least as aresult of the color space conversions optimized in relation to theenvironmental changes.

In various embodiments, the environment 701 may continually changeaccording to a time interval or other schedule (or the environment canchange based on random events) and the displayed fiducial markers 741,742 can continually be altered based on the techniques discussed herein,such that each iteration of the fiducial markers 741, 742 are optimizedin relation to the environment according to any one of the optimizationtechniques discussed herein. For example, each displayable iteration ofthe altered (and alterable fiducial marker 742, e.g., it can be changedcontinuously in response to environmental changes), where everydisplayable iteration of the alterable fiducial markers can include atleast four colors, each of the four colors being different with respectto one another and to at least one prevalent color in a most recentchange in the environment, where each of the four colors being differentwith respect to one another and at least one of the four colors being acolor absent from a most recent change environment 701, and where eachof the four colors being derived from a color space associated with afiltered luminance channel. The fiducial markers 741, 742 (altered orotherwise) can also have one or more infrared or ultraviolet layers,wherein various embodiments the ultraviolet layer can be as top layer tooptimize detection. The fiducial markers 741, 742 (altered or otherwise)can also have one or more infrared or ultraviolet layers, whereinvarious embodiments the ultraviolet layer can be as top layer tooptimize detection. In various embodiments, the fiducial marker 741(altered or otherwise) can be as described or can be derived asdescribed with respect to any matrix-code or barcode as described hereinand may have a color space derived utilizing any of the color space orimage processing techniques as discussed herein.

In various embodiments, the color space conversion techniques can employadditional color space conversion, distinct from the optimizationtechniques related to optimization changes, to take advantage of a colorspace that may have an advantages in relation to augmented realitydevices, e.g., converting from an XYZ color space associated with theoptimization to environmental changes to a corresponding LAB colorspace, such that the final iteration of the altered fiducial markers741, 742, and where the color space conversions can be pursuant to anysuitable technique, including but not limited to as described withrespect to FIG. 2.

In various embodiments, one or more devices or components of FIG. 7C,including the tablet 702, the augmented reality device 773, the cameraand/or scanning devices 775, and/or any other suitable devicesassociated with FIG. 7C can be configured to transmit, ingest, orprocess environmental color changes and transmit them to one another asnecessary to ensure proper detection of environmental changes, e.g.,they can be configured to scan the environment and transmit anassociated histogram of the environmental based on a pre-defined timinginterval and/or based on detecting a spectral change of a certainmagnitude. In various embodiments, appropriate mathematical operationsare performed at the relevant processing device, e.g., the tablet 702displaying or projecting a fiducial marker or fiducial markers and/orthe camera devices 775 displaying or projecting a fiducial marker orfiducial markers, to process the various histograms (e.g., anappropriate mathematical averaging technique) to determine an accuraterepresentation of the environment, e.g., environment 701 or part of anenvironment 780, and in responses thereto, perform the color spaceoptimization techniques (as discussed herein) to alter the displayedfiducial marker or markers, e.g., 741 and/or 742, to be optimized inrelation to the environmental changes.

In various embodiments, the environmental change or change constitutingthe change in which the one or more fiducial markers, e.g., 741 or 742,can be processed (e.g., pursuant to a color space conversion techniqueas described herein) for alteration and optimization in relation to thechange or changes can be based on a suitable histogram averagingtechnique processed into a single histogram representing theenvironmental changes as a whole, e.g., a single histogram developedtherefrom. In various embodiments, based on that consolidated-averagedhistogram and color space representation associated therewith, one ormore color space conversion (e.g., as discussed herein) can be performedwith respect to the color space (and color space distribution) of theone or more fiducial markers 741, 742, and can be performed to optimizedetection of the one or more markers in relation to the environmentalchanges.

In various embodiments, the one or more fiducial markers 741, 742 canprovide both relational and location information by having the meshencoded in the one or more fiducial markers, and transmitting therelevant relational and location information to the relevant devices,including the tablet 702, the augmented reality device 773, the cameraand/or scanning devices 775, and/or any other suitable devicesassociated with FIG. 7C. In various embodiments, this is possible atleast because the one or more fiducial markers 741, 742 has enhanceddata storage capacity as a result of having more channels, e.g., one ormore layers with multiple color channels, and/or one or more ultravioletlayers, and/or one or more infrared channels, which allows a mesh withincreased informational capacity to be encoded therein and used assuitable required. In various embodiments, the mesh can include one ormore objects in the environment and/or the entire environment with allassociated objects and entities therein, and in various embodiments, themesh can include a skin that covers the mesh. In various embodiments,the one or more fiducial markers can include a mesh representing one ormore objects in the environment, including, in various embodiments, allof the objects and entities in the environment and a skin associatedwith the mesh, in addition to providing relational information betweenthe fiducial marker and/or one or more objects, e.g., the tablet 702,the augmented reality device 773, the camera and/or scanning devices775. The enhanced data storage capacity of the one or more fiducialmarkers provide an enhanced operation for the overall system 700C atleast by increasing the communication efficiency between the variousdevices, including the tablet 702, the augmented reality device 773, thecamera and/or scanning devices 775, and by ensuring the mesh is notinterrupted and affecting the user experience associated with 700C.

In various embodiments, one or more devices of system 700C, includingthe tablet 702, can provide or transmit the relational and/or locationaldata to the one or more fiducial markers 741, 742, and in variousembodiments, where the layout of the environment 701 is known, theinformation of the location and/or relational information of the variousobjects and entities associated therewith (including other fiducialmarkers) can be pre-uploaded therein and updated using one or moretechniques as discussed herein. In various embodiments, where a LABcolor space is used, the “A” and “B” channels of the LAB space can beencoded with the relevant relational and/or location informationutilizing one or more techniques as discussed herein.

Operations for the disclosed embodiments may be further described withreference to the following figures. Some of the figures may include alogic flow. Although such figures presented herein may include aparticular logic flow, it can be appreciated that the logic flow merelyprovides an example of how the general functionality as described hereincan be implemented. Further, a given logic flow does not necessarilyhave to be executed in the order presented unless otherwise indicated.In addition, the given logic flow may be implemented by a hardwareelement, a software element executed by a processor, or any combinationthereof. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

FIG. 8A illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 800A. The logic flow800A may be representative of some or all of the operations executed byone or more embodiments described herein.

In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 8A, the logic flow 800Areceives a representative dataset of a target, such as an entity,object, or environment at block 802. For example, the logic flow 800Amay receive a representative dataset containing at least one of i) oneor more images of a target and ii) one or more videos of the target, thetarget including at least one of i) an environment (and/or each segment193 thereof), ii) a live entity and iii) an object using any suitablecamera or scanning device, where the representative dataset is containedin image group model data 450 or obtained directly by scanning thetarget using any suitable device, e.g., camera or video device 195and/or scanning device 197. In various embodiments, the target may be anenvironment that contains a scannable image therein. Similarly, thetarget may be one or more segments of the environment.

The logic flow 800A may process the representative dataset into asuitable representation of a color scheme, such as a histogram, at block804. For example, the logic flow 800A may examine image group model data450, which contains captured data of a scanned environment. Once thelogic flow 800A identifies the scanned data of the environment, thelogic flow can process that data into a histogram of a particular colorspace, e.g., an RGB color space. A histogram may be generated for eachsegment 193 of the environment.

The logic flow 800A may identify the most prevalent colors of theenvironment utilizing each generated histogram at block 806. In variousembodiments, the logic flow identifies the most prevalent colors inorder to apply a color space transform mechanism for substantiallymaximizing edge detection for a scannable image, such as a matrix,matrix barcode, fiducial marker, etc. based on the location in anenvironment.

The logic flow 800A may determine, for each segment 193 of theenvironment, a related number of colors based on the histogram at block808, e.g., the histogram is used to map to a first color space, whereleast prevalent and/or absent colors in relation to the most prevalentcolors of the target are determined, and the least prevalent and/orabsent colors form the basis for one or more color channels in a secondcolor space.

In various embodiments, the related plurality of colors can represent arange of colors between the most prevalent colors and the leastprevalent colors and/or absent colors of the target, including solecolors that are absent in relation to the target and/or colors that arethe least prevalent in association with the target. In variousembodiments, in order to determine the related number of colors based,the logic flow may select and apply a color space transform mechanism tothe image data associated with the histogram. As described herein, theimage data includes color data configured in accordance with a colorspace model, e.g., the histogram can be used to create a color spacerepresentation of the target data. In some embodiments, the logic flow800A applies the color space transform mechanism 180 of FIG. 1 byconverting the image data into transformed image data comprising colordata in accordance with another color space model that differs from thecolor space associated with the histogram. For example, the logic flowmay create a histogram of the image data associated with the target,then use the histogram to create a first color space representation ofthe target, e.g., an RGB color space representation. Thereafter, asdiscussed below, the logic flow can perform one or more additional colorspace transformation techniques into other color spaces, such as XYZcolor spaces or any other suitable color space that utilizes atristimulus system.

In various embodiments, the logic flow 800A may perform a color spacetransform manipulating the color data of the original image data toenable efficient edge detection on the transformed image data. Asexplained below, the logic flow 800A may change the color space model toquickly identify boundaries, such as when two colors are close inproximity. The logic flow 800A examines each datapoint in the image, andfor each location, the logic flow 800A identifies a color. In variousembodiments, the color space conversion can be based on at least one setof color coordinates for each one of the most prevalent colors accordingto the another (or second) color space and determining at least one setof color coordinates corresponding to the related plurality of colors inthe (second) another color space, where the at least one set ofcoordinates of the most prevalent plurality of colors being either oneor both of perpendicular/orthogonal and a maximal distance away, withrespect to another color space, to the at least one set of coordinatesof the related colors. In various embodiments, the second color spacecan be considered a derivative color space of the first color space.

In various embodiments, this ensures that the colors used for ascannable image may maximize edge detection, as the maximal distanceaway between prevalent color channels and colors of the target in theenvironment and other color channels and colors (the related colorchannels and colors) ensures that the related color channels and colorsare either absent in the target and/or least prevalent in the target.Additionally, if the related colors and color channels are selected tobe perpendicular or orthogonal in relation to the target color channelsand colors (and with respect to one another), this may further enhanceedge detection.

In one example utilizing the one or more techniques outlined above, thelogic flow 800A proceeds to identify two or more colors by prevalence inthe target and configures them into one channel. Take, for instance, afirst color and second color of first and second highest prevalence,respectively, where the first color becomes a minimum in the colorchannel and the second color becomes the maximum such that the boundarymay be a transition between these colors. This boundary may be at leastone pixel where the color changed from the first to the second color orvice versa. If the first color is set to zero (0) and the second coloris set to two hundred and fifty-five (255), then, mathematically, thisboundary may be located at pixel(s) that jumped between the minimum andmaximum value; for example, there may be sharp division (i.e., thinboundary) in which at least two neighboring pixels transitionimmediately between 0 and 255.

As alluded to above, for a given segment 193, the color channels cancorrespond to a first color space, e.g., RGB, where the first colorspace can be based on the first set of tristimulus values, and where thefirst-color space may have a color coordinates for representing colorsof the target, e.g., the most prevalent colors of the target. The logicflow 800A may then identify one or more colors that are either unused orbarely used (i.e., least prevalent or absent) and establish those colorsin another channel to be opposite of the above-identified prevalentcolors, where the new color channel (or color channels) forms the basisfor a new color space, e.g., a new set of tristimulus values of an XYZcolor space, and where the first color space is converted to the secondcolor space.

Then, the logic flow 800A may perform one or more additional operations,e.g., configuring each color channel of the new color space to beperpendicular or orthogonal to one another in the new color space model,make an additional conversion to a third color space, including anintermediary operation that filters out non-chromacity related featuressuch as luminance or brightness channel, and/or perform an orientationoperation in the second (or third) color space prior to making the colorchannels perpendicular or orthogonal to each other (in order to maximizethe distance between color channels and thus enhancing edge detection).

At block 810, the logic flow 800A may utilize the related colors ofblock 808 to create one or more scannable images, such as a matrix,matrix barcode, fiducial marker, or any other suitable image forscanning. In various embodiments, the related colors may be colors ofeach color channel associated with the final color space conversion asdiscussed above, e.g., a plurality of color channels and associatedcolors, as may be represented in an XYZ color space, that are either notprevalent in the target and/or are completely absent in the target,where, in various embodiments, the least prevalent and/or absent colorscan be arranged orthogonally to each other to further enhance edgedetection. In various embodiments, the scannable image may be a matrixbarcode that is formed to reflect colors of each of the least prevalentand/or absent and/or orthogonal color channels in relation to a target,e.g., a segment 193 of the environment containing the matrix barcode.

In various embodiments, the matrix barcode is embedded with informationthat is based on the color space conversions, e.g., each pixel or pixelsassociated with the matrix bar code is associated with a color channelof the final color space, e.g., the XYZ color space with color channelsrepresenting the least prevalent or absent colors of the environment,where each color channel represents a bit of data, and where the numberof color channels can be three or more, four or more, etc. (as there areno limitations imposed by human perceptibility), and by extension thenumber of encoded bits can be three or more, four or more, etc.

In various embodiments, where four or more colors are used, each one ofthe four or more colors are distinct colors in relation to one another,and based on the color space techniques discussed herein and above, thefour or more colors are derived from a plurality of coordinatescorresponding to each one of the at least four distinct colors along aconverted-to(derivative) color space, where the converted-to(derivative) color space contains a plurality of coordinates setsrepresenting the at least four prevalent colors of the target, e.g.,environment, and each of the four or more colors corresponds to adistinct coordinate set of the converted-to (derivative) color space.

In various embodiments, each of the four or more distinct colors areselected based on having a maximal opposite coordinate relationship withrespect to at least one of the plurality of coordinate sets representingat least four prevalent colors in the target, e.g., environment.

There are a number of applicable edge detection techniques, and the edgedetection technique 190 may be appropriate for the one color space modelof the transformed image data while another edge detection technique maybe appropriate for the original color space model. The embodiments arenot limited to this example.

FIG. 8B illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 800B. The logic flow800B may be representative of some or all of the operations executed byone or more embodiments described herein.

In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 8B, at block 815, the logicflow may detect a matrix that includes one or more non-black andnon-white colors, where each of the non-black and non-white colors is i)at least one of an absent color in relation to an environment and/orsegment 193 thereof and/or ii) at least one least prevalent colorassociated with the environment and/or segment 193 thereof. In variousembodiments, the matrix is a barcode constructed with one or more colorspace conversion techniques as outlined herein, e.g., the matrix barcodeis derived from an RGB color space and a derivative color space of theRGB color space (a converted-to (derivative)color space from the RGBcolor space, such as an XYZ color space). In various embodiments, thederivative color space is an XYZ color space with a filtered luminancechannel.

In various embodiments, the barcode can be scanned with any suitablecomponent, e.g., a scanning device 197, that has a suitable key, e.g.,tristimulus equations associated with a conversion to an XYZ colorspace, that reveals the color channels with associated colors that areassociated with the scannable portions of the matrix barcode, including,in various embodiments, information encoded in the matrix barcode. Invarious embodiments, the barcode can include four or more distinctcolors each associated with at least four distinct color channels, whereeach of the colors is different from one another and different from themost prevalent colors of the environment and/or segment 193 thereof. Invarious embodiments, the colors and color channels of the barcode can becomputed according to coordinate relationships between the mostprevalent colors and the least prevalent and/or absent colors in thederivative color space, including a maximal distance between the mostprevalent colors and the least prevalent and/or absent colors.Additional or different color space conversion techniques can be used asdiscussed herein, and this is merely one example consistent with thepresent disclosure.

In various embodiments, the barcode can be printed and/or embedded on aphysical medium, e.g., a physical surface or material, using anysuitable component, e.g., printing device 199, with the least prevalentand/or absent colors, and the barcode can be scanned along the surfaceof the physical surface. In other embodiments, any suitable computerdevice, including a computer, laptop, or tablet (as shown in FIG. 7Aprovided for below) can be configured to generate a scannable barcodethat reflects the least prevalent or absent colors, where the barcodecan be scanned along a surface of the computer display.

At block 820, the logic flow 800B may transmit the result of the scan toany suitable computer device as discussed herein, including anindication as to whether or not the scan was of the barcode wassuccessful, and any encoded information associated therewith wasobtained.

FIG. 8C illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 800C. The logic flowmay be representative of some or all of the operations executed by oneor more embodiments described herein.

The logic flow 800C may utilize the related colors to produce ascannable image at block 830, such as a matrix, matrix barcode, fiducialmarker, or any other suitable image for scanning, where the scannableimage can, in addition to including non-black and non-white colors (suchas the least prevalent and/or absent colors associated with a target,e.g., an environment), can include one or both of an ultraviolet layerand an infrared layer. In various embodiments, the matrix, matrixbarcode, fiducial marker, or any other suitable image can be printedand/or embedded on a physical surface using any suitable component,e.g., printing device 199, with the least prevalent and/or absent colorsand an infrared and/or ultraviolet layer, and the barcode can be scannedalong the surface of the physical surface. In other embodiments, anysuitable computer device, including a computer, laptop, or tablet (asshown in FIG. 7A provided for below) can be configured to generate ascannable barcode that reflects the least prevalent or absent colors,the ultraviolet layer and/or the infrared layer, where the matrix,matrix barcode, fiducial marker, or any other suitable image can bescanned along a surface of the computer display.

In various embodiments, the ultraviolet layer may be printed first alongthe physical surface and/or may form the top layer generated on acomputer screen in order to maximize the benefits associated withultraviolet light. In various embodiments, the colors of the scannableimage need not be colors that have a relationship with the environmentand/or not based on color space conversion techniques and can be anycolors, including standard black and white colors, with a scannableimage containing both an infrared and ultraviolet layer for detection.

FIG. 8D illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 800D. The logic flow800D may be representative of some or all of the operations executed byone or more embodiments described herein.

In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 8D, at block 840, the logicflow 800D may detect a scannable image, e.g., a matrix, that includesone or more non-black and non-white colors, where each of the non-blackand non-white colors are at least one of an i) an absent color inrelation to an environment and/or segment 193 thereof and/or ii) a leastprevalent color associated with the environment and/or segment 193thereof, in addition to one or both of an ultraviolet layer and/or aninfrared layer. In various embodiments, the matrix is a barcodeconstructed with one or more color space conversion techniques asoutlined herein, e.g., as discussed with respect to FIG. 8B, with theaddition of an ultraviolet layer and/or infrared layer.

In various embodiments, the scannable image, e.g., barcode, can bescanned with any suitable component, e.g., a scanning device 197, thathas a suitable key, e.g., tristimulus equations associated with aconversion to an XYZ color space, that reveals the color channels withassociated colors that are associated with the scannable portions of thematrix barcode, including, in various embodiments, information encodedin the matrix barcode. In addition to the key, any suitable component,e.g., scanning device 197, can also have a verification bit indicatingwhether the ultraviolet layer and/or infrared layer is associated withinformation, and if so, performs the scan and/or decodes the informationbased on the verification bit. In various embodiments, the barcode caninclude four or more distinct colors each associated with at least fourdistinct color channels, where each of the colors are different from oneanother and different to the most prevalent colors of the environment,in addition to also having one or both the ultraviolet layer and/or theinfrared layer, and as such, the scan can be a scan of six or more bitsof information.

In various embodiments, the barcode can be printed and/or embedded on aphysical surface using any suitable component, e.g., printing device199, with the least prevalent and/or absent colors, and the barcode canbe scanned along the surface of the physical surface. In otherembodiments, any suitable computing device, including a computer,laptop, or tablet (as shown in FIG. 7A provided for below) can beconfigured to generate a scannable barcode that reflects the leastprevalent or absent colors, where the barcode can be scanned along asurface of the computer display. In various embodiments, the printing ofthe scannable image, e.g., barcode, can be such that the topmost layermay be an ultraviolet layer and any associated scan may account for theultraviolet layer first. Similarly, in various embodiments, if thescannable image is generated by a computer device and displayed by acomputer display, the first layer displayed by the computer device canbe the ultraviolet layer.

At block 850, the logic flow 800D may transmit the result of the scan toany suitable computer device as discussed herein, including anindication as to whether or not the scan was of the barcode wassuccessful, and any encoded information associated in addition to thatwas obtained.

FIG. 8E illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 800E. The logic flow800E may be representative of some or all of the operations executed byone or more embodiments described herein, including but not limited toFIG. 1 and/or FIG. 7C.

At block 860, the logic flow 800E may detect an alteration to a fiducialmarker on display of a device, where the fiducial marker includes aplurality of non-black and non-white colors, wherein each one of theplurality of non-black and non-white colors are based on a detectedchange in color with respect to a change in an environment, and whereeach one of the non-black and non-white colors are based on at least oneof i) an absent color in relation to the changed environment and/orsegment 193 thereof and ii) at least one least prevalent colorassociated with the changed environment and/or segment 193 thereof. Thefiducial marker may be displayed and utilized as discussed withreference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 7B and utilizing any color spaceoptimization technique as discussed herein, including but not limited toas discussed with reference to FIG. 3. For example, a camera or scanningdevice may detect a chance in a color space of an environment containingthe device with the display and transmit the image data associated withthe change in the color space of the environment to the devicedisplaying the fiducial marker, such as a computer device, laptop, ortablet system. The computer device, laptop, or tablet system may performone or more color space optimization techniques as discussed herein anddisplay an altered fiducial marker that is optimized for detection inthe new environment. In various embodiments, as discussed elsewhereherein with reference to other images, the fiducial marker may includeat least four distinct colors, each of the four colors being differentwith respect to one another and/or also being different to each one ofthe most prevalent plurality of colors of the altered environment, wherethe altered environment may include at least four prevalent colors, andwhere each one of the at least four distinct colors capable of beingderived from a plurality of coordinates corresponding to each one of theat least four distinct colors along a derivative color space associatedwith a color space conversion in relation to the color space of thealtered environment, and where the derivative color space may contain aplurality of coordinates sets representing the at least four prevalentcolors. In various embodiments, at least four distinct colors may eachcorrespond to a distinct coordinate set of the derivative color space,and each of the at least four distinct colors may be selected based onhaving a maximal opposite coordinate relationship with respect to atleast one of the plurality of coordinate sets representing the at leastfour prevalent colors.

In various embodiments, the device performing the color spaceconversions, such as a computer, laptop, or tablet system may perform aspatial orientation operation (discussed in greater detail withreference to FIG. 7B) utilizing the altered fiducial marker at block865. Alternatively, in various embodiments (also discussed in greaterdetail with reference to FIG. 7B), the computer, laptop, or tabletsystem may transmit the altered fiducial marker to another device, suchas an augmented reality device in the changed environment and/or a robotconfigured to exert a physical action in the changed environment. Therobot or augmented reality device may then use the altered fiducialmarker is as a point of spatial reference, e.g., the robot or augmentedreality device receives the image data associated with the alteredfiducial marker and display it on interface it of its own or otherwisereproduces such that another device in the environment, e.g., a camera,scanner, controller, or any other suitable device that the robot oraugmented reality device receives data from or otherwise performs aphysical action in relation thereto may more easily scan the fiducialmarker (which is now optimized for the changed environment), thusallowing the robot or augmented reality device to perform a physicalaction and/or spatial orientation in relation to the other deviceproviding the data or otherwise communicating with the robot oraugmented reality device.

FIG. 8F illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 800F. The logic flow800F may be representative of some or all of the operations executed byone or more embodiments described herein including but not limited toFIG. 1 and/or FIG. 7C.

At block 870, the logic flow 800F may detect an alteration to a fiducialmarker (or fiducial markers) that is located in an environment, orotherwise associated with the environment, containing an augmentedreality device (which can be part of an overall augmented realitysystem), where the fiducial marker includes a plurality of non-black andnon-white colors. In various embodiments, each one of the plurality ofnon-black and non-white colors are based on a detected change in colorwith respect to a change in an environment and/or a change in a locationin the environment (e.g., from a first segment 193 of the environment toa second segment 193 of the environment). In various embodiments, eachone of the non-black and non-white colors are based on at least one ofi) an absent color in relation to the changing environment and/orsegment 193 thereof or ii) at least one least prevalent color associatedwith the changing environment and/or segment 193 thereof. The fiducialmarker may be displayed and utilized as discussed concerning FIG. 1,FIG. 7B, and/or FIG. 7C, and utilizing any color space optimizationtechnique as discussed herein, including but not limited to as discussedconcerning FIG. 2. For example, a camera or scanning device may detect achance in a color space of an environment containing the device with thedisplay and transmit the image data associated with the change in thecolor space of the environment to the device displaying the fiducialmarker, such as a computer device, laptop, or tablet system. Thecomputer device, laptop or tablet system may perform one or more colorspace optimization techniques as discussed herein and display an alteredfiducial marker that is optimized for detection in the new environmentand/or segment 193 thereof.

In various embodiments, as discussed elsewhere herein with reference toother images, the fiducial marker may include at least four distinctcolors, each of the four colors being different with respect to oneanother and/or also being different to each one of the most prevalentplurality of colors of the altered environment, where the alteredenvironment may include at least four prevalent colors, and where eachone of the at least four distinct colors capable of being derived from aplurality of coordinates corresponding to each one of the at least fourdistinct colors along a derivative color space associated with a colorspace conversion in relation to the color space of the alteredenvironment, and where the derivative color space may contain aplurality of coordinates sets representing the at least four prevalentcolors. In various embodiments, at least four distinct colors may eachcorrespond to a distinct coordinate set of the derivative color space,and each of the at least four distinct colors may be selected based onhaving a maximal opposite coordinate relationship with respect to atleast one of the plurality of coordinate sets representing the at leastfour prevalent colors.

In various embodiments, more than one color space conversion can takeplace, where the first color space conversion, e.g., from RGB to XYZ,performs the necessary operations to optimize the color space to beassociated with each fiducial marker in relation to the changes in theenvironment, and where the second conversion, e.g., XYZ to LAB, canoffer an advantage inherent with respect to that color space in relationto a particular purpose, e.g., updating a mesh for an augmented realitydevice and performing detection of fiducial markers useful for thatpurpose in association therewith. The key associated with scanningand/or performing any required associated decryption in relation to theone or more fiducial markers can be defined by the mathematicalequations governing the conversion from the first color space to theother color space, e.g., RGB to XYZ, and, as applicable, the conversionof the other color space to another color space, e.g., XYZ to LAB. Amesh can be a three-dimensional representation of one or more objects,surfaces, or other entities in an environment, and the mesh can includea skin that forms the covering associated therewith. In variousembodiments, the mesh can be associated with the entirety of anenvironment and all the objects and entities therein.

In various embodiments, more than one device may project or otherwiseproduce more than one fiducial marker, and in various embodiments, eachfiducial marker can correspond to an object or entity, e.g., user, in anenvironment. The color space optimization with respect to one of thefiducial markers can be the same or different depending on theapplication and/or environmental changes.

In various embodiments, one or more devices performing the color spaceconversions, such as a computer, laptop, camera, scanning device ortablet system may transmit the altered color space to any suitabledevice, e.g., the computer, the laptop, the camera, the scanning deviceor the tablet system to update the one or more fiducial markers.

The logic flow can update a mesh for an augmented reality device part ofan augmented reality system utilizing the one or more fiducial markersat block 875. As activity takes place in the environment associated withthe augmented reality system and device, the augmented reality devicecan detect movement by utilizing the fiducial markers for orientationand/or, in instances where the fiducial markers are located on objectsor entities (e.g., users) in the environment, by detecting alteredlocations of the objects in the environment. Since the fiducial markers,pursuant to various environments, have color spaces and associatedcolors that change based on environmental changes, e.g., making thecolor spaces of the markers more detectable by changing the color spacesof the fiducial markers, e.g., optimizing the fiducial markers fordetection or scanning in relation to the environment (and associatedchanges) (e.g., utilizing any suitable color space conversion or imageprocessing technique as discussed herein), the accuracy andsustainability of the mesh is enhanced, and the user experienceassociated with the augmented reality device and system is, byextension, also enhanced.

FIG. 8G illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 800G. The logic flow800G may be representative of some or all of the operations executed byone or more embodiments described herein, including but not limited toFIG. 1 and/or FIG. 7C.

At block 880, the logic flow 800G may utilize one or more fiducialmarkers contained in an environment associated with an augmented realitysystem to localize one or more cameras in the environment for detectionand utilization in one or more augmented reality operations. In variousembodiments, the one or more fiducial markers can be any marker asdescribed herein, including markers with color channels, ultravioletchannels, and/or infrared channels as optimized for detection asdiscussed herein. In various embodiments, the one or more fiducialmarkers can be pre-encoded with the layout of the environment, includingbut not limited to all objects and entities therein, e.g., cameras,machines, computers, objects, people etc. In various embodiments, thelocation (e.g., where each object, entity, and/or device of theenvironment is located) and relational data (e.g., the relation of oneobject to another, including the fiducial markers themselves) can betransmitted to the one or more fiducial markers in real time by the oneor more cameras, other scanning devices, and/or computer devices in theenvironment, which can include updating a pre-configured marker and/orencoding data on a fiducial marker without data.

In various embodiments, at block 882, the logic flow 800G can utilizethe encoded data to determine the layout and location for one or moreaugmented reality meshes (and skin(s) associated therewith) is to begenerated in relation to one or more objects, entities, and/or devicesin the environment, including a mesh layout for the environment as awhole. In various embodiments, this can include updating an existingmesh based on detected alterations to the environment, where thedetection of a change to the environment can be pursuant to anytechnique as discussed herein or as otherwise suitable at block 884. Invarious embodiments, this can include utilizing one or more camera orscanning devices to detect a rotation, movement, or other alteration ofan entity, object, or device in the environment, and transmit thedetection to the one or more alteration to the one or more fiducialmarkers, which can update the location and/or relational data as datarepresented by having one or more dynamically optimized-for-detectioncolor layers, ultraviolet layers, and/or infrared layers, and wherethose dynamically optimized layers can be pursuant to any of theoptimization techniques discussed herein or as otherwise suitable. Oncethe one or more fiducial markers have been encoded and/or updated, theaugmented reality system can generate or update the mesh associated withthe one or more objects, entities, and/or devices of the environment,where in various embodiments this can include a generated or updatedmesh (and associated skin) for the layout of the environment as a wholeat block 886. In various embodiments, the relational and/or locationdata can be encoded in one or more color channels associated with theone or more fiducial markers. In various embodiments, this can includean “A” and/or a “B” channel of a LAB color space, where in variousembodiments, the colors associated with the one or more fiducial markersare generated and updated pursuant to one or more color space conversiontechniques as discussed herein.

FIG. 8H illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 800H. The logic flow800H may be representative of some or all of the operations executed byone or more embodiments described herein, including but not limited toFIG. 1 and/or FIG. 7C.

As shown, the logic flow 800H begins at block 890, where an environment(e.g., a room, portion of a room, floor of a building, the environment701, etc., is partitioned into a plurality of segments 193. Generally, ascanner and/or camera device may provide one or more images depictingthe environment. The environment analysis and prediction logic 191 maythen analyze the image(s) to partition the environment into a pluralityof segments. For example, a grid structure may be used to partition aroom into any number of grid segments, e.g., 4, 8, 16, etc. gridsegments. As another example, when multiple cameras and/or scanningdevices are available to provide images, the images may be used togenerate a 3-D image of the room, and an octree structure may be used togenerate the plurality of segments in three dimensions.

At block 891, an optimal color space may be determined for each segment193 of the environment generated at block 890 according to the colorspace optimization techniques described herein. The optimal color spacemay be associated with each segment 193. At block 892, the position ofan object displayed in the environment may be monitored by theenvironment analysis and prediction logic 191. The object may be, forexample, a matrix, a matrix barcode, and/or a fiducial marker. Theobject displayed may have a first color space corresponding to a firstsegment 193 of the environment. At block 893, the environment analysisand prediction logic 191 may predict a future position of the objectbased on a movement of the object in the environment. The predictedfuture position may comprise a different segment 193, such as a secondsegment 193, of the environment. At block 894, the color space of theobject may be altered based on the predicted future position of theobject in the environment. For example, the color space of the objectmay be modified to have optimal color space of the second segment 193 ofthe environment. The optimal color spaces may be determined based on oneor more techniques described herein, e.g., FIGS. 2-3, and/or the logicflow 800A. In some embodiments, a linear transform may be applied tosmooth the transition from the color space of the first segment 193 ofthe environment to the color space of the second segment 193 of theenvironment. In some embodiments, the color spaces of the first andsecond segments 193 are different color spaces. By altering the colorspace of the object, detection of the object in the second segment ofthe environment may be maximized. The color space of the second segmentof the environment may include a plurality of non-black, non-whitecolors, and non-greyscale colors.

FIG. 8I illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 800I. The logic flow800I may be representative of some or all of the operations executed byone or more embodiments described herein, including but not limited toFIG. 1 and/or FIG. 7C.

At block 895, a scanner and/or camera device may scan an environment(e.g., a room, the environment 701, etc.) to capture one or more imagesof the environment. At block 896, the environment analysis andprediction logic 191 determines that an object has transitioned from afirst segment 193 of the environment to a second segment 193 of theenvironment based on the captured images. At block 897, an optimal colorspace associated with the second segment of the environment isdetermined. The optimal color space may be predetermined and/ordetermined responsive to the transition at block 896. The optimal colorspace may be determined based on one or more techniques describedherein, e.g., FIGS. 2-3, and/or the logic flow 800A. At block 898, alinear transform is applied to alter a color space of the object fromthe color space of the first segment of the environment to the colorspace of the second segment of the environment. By altering the colorspace of the object, detection of the object in the second segment ofthe environment may be maximized. The color space of the second segmentof the environment may include a plurality of non-black, non-whitecolors, and non-greyscale colors.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of an exemplary computing architecture900 suitable for implementing various embodiments as previouslydescribed. In one embodiment, the computing architecture 900 maycomprise or be implemented as part of an electronic device. Examples ofan electronic device may include those described with reference to FIGS.1, 4-5, 7A-7C, among others. The embodiments are not limited in thiscontext.

As used in this application, the terms “system” and “component” areintended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, acombination of hardware and software, software, or software inexecution, examples of which are provided by the exemplary computingarchitecture 900. For example, a component can be, but is not limited tobeing, a process running on a processor, a processor, a hard disk drive,multiple storage drives (of optical and/or magnetic storage medium), anobject, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or acomputer. By way of illustration, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components canreside within a process and/or thread of execution, and a component canbe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. Further, components may be communicatively coupled to eachother by various types of communications media to coordinate operations.The coordination may involve the uni-directional or bi-directionalexchange of information. For instance, the components may communicateinformation in the form of signals communicated over the communicationsmedia. The information can be implemented as signals allocated tovarious signal lines. In such allocations, each message is a signal.Further embodiments, however, may alternatively employ data messages.Such data messages may be sent across various connections. Exemplaryconnections include parallel interfaces, serial interfaces, and businterfaces.

The computing architecture 900 includes various common computingelements, such as one or more processors, multi-core processors,co-processors, memory units, chipsets, controllers, peripherals,interfaces, oscillators, timing devices, video cards, audio cards,multimedia input/output (I/O) components, power supplies, and so forth.The embodiments, however, are not limited to implementation by thecomputing architecture 900.

As shown in FIG. 9, the computing architecture 900 comprises aprocessing unit 904, a system memory 906 and a system bus 908. Theprocessing unit 904 can be any of various commercially availableprocessors, including without limitation an AMD® Athlon®, Duron® andOpteron® processors; ARM® application, embedded and secure processors;IBM® and Motorola® DragonBall® and PowerPC® processors; IBM and Sony®Cell processors; Intel® Celeron®, Core (2) Duo®, Itanium®, Pentium®,Xeon®, and XScale® processors; and similar processors. Dualmicroprocessors, multi-core processors, and other multi-processorarchitectures may also be employed as the processing unit 904.

The system bus 908 provides an interface for system componentsincluding, but not limited to, the system memory 906 to the processingunit 904. The system bus 908 can be any of several types of busstructure that may further interconnect to a memory bus (with or withouta memory controller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of avariety of commercially available bus architectures. Interface adaptersmay connect to the system bus 908 via a slot architecture. Example slotarchitectures may include without limitation Accelerated Graphics Port(AGP), Card Bus, (Extended) Industry Standard Architecture ((E)ISA),Micro Channel Architecture (MCA), NuBus, Peripheral ComponentInterconnect (Extended) (PCI(X)), PCI Express, Personal Computer MemoryCard International Association (PCMCIA), and the like.

The computing architecture 900 may comprise or implement variousarticles of manufacture. An article of manufacture may comprise acomputer-readable storage medium to store logic. Examples of acomputer-readable storage medium may include any tangible media capableof storing electronic data, including volatile memory or non-volatilememory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable or non-erasablememory, writeable or re-writeable memory, and so forth. Examples oflogic may include executable computer program instructions implementedusing any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code,interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code,object-oriented code, visual code, and the like. Embodiments may also beat least partly implemented as instructions contained in or on anon-transitory computer-readable medium, which may be read and executedby one or more processors to enable performance of the operationsdescribed herein.

The system memory 906 may include various types of computer-readablestorage media in the form of one or more higher speed memory units, suchas read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), dynamic RAM(DRAM), Double-Data-Rate DRAM (DDRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), staticRAM (SRAM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM),electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, polymermemory such as ferroelectric polymer memory, ovonic memory, phase changeor ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS)memory, magnetic or optical cards, an array of devices such as RedundantArray of Independent Disks (RAID) drives, solid state memory devices(e.g., USB memory, solid state drives (SSD) and any other type ofstorage media suitable for storing information. In the illustratedembodiment shown in FIG. 9, the system memory 906 can includenon-volatile memory 910 and/or volatile memory 912. A basic input/outputsystem (BIOS) can be stored in the non-volatile memory 910.

The computer 902 may include various types of computer-readable storagemedia in the form of one or more lower speed memory units, including aninternal (or external) hard disk drive (HDD) 914, a magnetic floppy diskdrive (FDD) 916 to read from or write to a removable magnetic disk 918,and an optical disk drive 920 to read from or write to a removableoptical disk 922 (e.g., a CD-ROM or DVD). The HDD 914, FDD 916 andoptical disk drive 920 can be connected to the system bus 908 by a HDDinterface 924, an FDD interface 926 and an optical drive interface 928,respectively. The HDD interface 924 for external drive implementationscan include at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE1394 interface technologies.

The drives and associated computer-readable media provide volatileand/or nonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For example, a number of program modules canbe stored in the drives and memory units 910, 912, including anoperating system 930, one or more application programs 932, otherprogram modules 934, and program data 936. In one embodiment, the one ormore application programs 932, other program modules 934, and programdata 936 can include, for example, the various applications and/orcomponents of the system 100.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 902 throughone or more wire/wireless input devices, for example, a keyboard 938 anda pointing device, such as a mouse 940. Other input devices may includemicrophones, infra-red (IR) remote controls, radio-frequency (RF) remotecontrols, game pads, stylus pens, card readers, dongles, finger printreaders, gloves, graphics tablets, joysticks, keyboards, retina readers,touch screens (e.g., capacitive, resistive, etc.), trackballs,trackpads, sensors, styluses, and the like. These and other inputdevices are often connected to the processing unit 904 through an inputdevice interface 942 that is coupled to the system bus 908 but can beconnected by other interfaces such as a parallel port, IEEE 1394 serialport, a game port, a USB port, an IR interface, and so forth.

A monitor 944 or other type of display device is also connected to thesystem bus 908 via an interface, such as a video adaptor 946. Themonitor 944 may be internal or external to the computer 902. In additionto the monitor 944, a computer typically includes other peripheraloutput devices, such as speakers, printers, and so forth.

The computer 902 may operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wire and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer 948. The remote computer 948can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, a personal computer,portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainment appliance, a peerdevice or other common network node, and typically includes many or allof the elements described relative to the computer 902, although, forpurposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device 950 is illustrated.The logical connections depicted include wire/wireless connectivity to alocal area network (LAN) 952 and/or larger networks, for example, a widearea network (WAN) 954. Such LAN and WAN networking environments arecommonplace in offices and companies, and facilitate enterprise-widecomputer networks, such as intranets, all of which may connect to aglobal communications network, for example, the Internet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 902 is connectedto the LAN 952 through a wire and/or wireless communication networkinterface or adaptor 956. The adaptor 956 can facilitate wire and/orwireless communications to the LAN 952, which may also include awireless access point disposed thereon for communicating with thewireless functionality of the adaptor 956.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 902 can includea modem 958, or is connected to a communications server on the WAN 954,or has other means for establishing communications over the WAN 954,such as by way of the Internet. The modem 958, which can be internal orexternal and a wire and/or wireless device, connects to the system bus908 via the input device interface 942. In a networked environment,program modules depicted relative to the computer 902, or portionsthereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device 950. It maybe appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary andother means of establishing a communications link between the computerscan be used.

The computer 902 is operable to communicate with wire and wirelessdevices or entities using the IEEE 802 family of standards, such aswireless devices operatively disposed in wireless communication (e.g.,IEEE 802.11 over-the-air modulation techniques). This includes at leastWi-Fi (or Wireless Fidelity), WiMax, and Bluetooth™ wirelesstechnologies, among others. Thus, the communication can be a predefinedstructure as with a conventional network or simply an ad hoccommunication between at least two devices. Wi-Fi networks use radiotechnologies called IEEE 802.11x (a, b, g, n, etc.) to provide secure,reliable, fast wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can be used toconnect computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wire networks(which use IEEE 802.3-related media and functions).

Various embodiments may be implemented using hardware elements, softwareelements, or a combination of both. Examples of hardware elements mayinclude processors, microprocessors, circuits, circuit elements (e.g.,transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, and so forth), integratedcircuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmablelogic devices (PLD), digital signal processors (DSP), field programmablegate array (FPGA), logic gates, registers, semiconductor device, chips,microchips, chip sets, and so forth. Examples of software may includesoftware components, programs, applications, computer programs,application programs, system programs, machine programs, operatingsystem software, middleware, firmware, software modules, routines,subroutines, functions, methods, procedures, software interfaces,application program interfaces (API), instruction sets, computing code,computer code, code segments, computer code segments, words, values,symbols, or any combination thereof. Determining whether an embodimentis implemented using hardware elements and/or software elements may varyin accordance with any number of factors, such as desired computationalrate, power levels, heat tolerances, processing cycle budget, input datarates, output data rates, memory resources, data bus speeds and otherdesign or performance constraints.

One or more aspects of at least one embodiment may be implemented byrepresentative instructions stored on a machine-readable medium whichrepresents various logic within the processor, which when read by amachine causes the machine to fabricate logic to perform the techniquesdescribed herein. Such representations, known as “IP cores” may bestored on a tangible, machine readable medium and supplied to variouscustomers or manufacturing facilities to load into the fabricationmachines that make the logic or processor. Some embodiments may beimplemented, for example, using a machine-readable medium or articlewhich may store an instruction or a set of instructions that, ifexecuted by a machine, may cause the machine to perform a method and/oroperations in accordance with the embodiments. Such a machine mayinclude, for example, any suitable processing platform, computingplatform, computing device, processing device, computing system,processing system, computer, processor, or the like, and may beimplemented using any suitable combination of hardware and/or software.The machine-readable medium or article may include, for example, anysuitable type of memory unit, memory device, memory article, memorymedium, storage device, storage article, storage medium and/or storageunit, for example, memory, removable or non-removable media, erasable ornon-erasable media, writeable or re-writeable media, digital or analogmedia, hard disk, floppy disk, Compact Disk Read Only Memory (CD-ROM),Compact Disk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW),optical disk, magnetic media, magneto-optical media, removable memorycards or disks, various types of Digital Versatile Disk (DVD), a tape, acassette, or the like. The instructions may include any suitable type ofcode, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executablecode, static code, dynamic code, encrypted code, and the like,implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented,visual, compiled and/or interpreted programming language.

The foregoing description of example embodiments has been presented forthe purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise formsdisclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light ofthis disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the present disclosurebe limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claimsappended hereto. Future filed applications claiming priority to thisapplication may claim the disclosed subject matter in a differentmanner, and may generally include any set of one or more limitations asvariously disclosed or otherwise demonstrated herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a processor; and amemory storing instructions which when executed by the processor causethe processor to: set one or more camera devices to determine, for eachof two or more environment segments of an environment, a respectivedistinct environment color space based on a quadtree schemerepresentation of the two or more environment segments; and alter acolor space of an object based on a movement of the object in relationto the environment, wherein the object transitions from one of the twoor more environment segments into the other one of the two or moresegments, and wherein the alteration is based on the transition from thecolor space of the one of the two or more environment segments into theother one of the two or more environment segments.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the object includes a matrix code.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the matrix code is a fiducial marker.
 4. The apparatusof claim 3, wherein the fiducial marker is based on a LAB color space.5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fiducial marker includes atleast one of an ultraviolet layer or an infrared layer.
 6. The apparatusof claim 2, the memory storing instructions which when executed by theprocessor cause the processor to: detect the object based on the colorspace alteration of the object in relation to a real-time movement ofthe object from one of the two or more environment segments into theother one of the two more segments.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, thememory storing instructions which when executed by the processor causethe processor to: instruct a scanner to scan the environment; detect thetransition from the distinct color space of the first one of the two ormore environment segments into the distinct color space of other one ofthe two or more environment segments; and determine an optimal colorspace associated with the object based on the transition.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 1, the memory storing instructions which whenexecuted by the processor cause the processor to: predict the colorspace of the other one of the two more segments utilizing a cameradevice; and alter the color space of the object based on the prediction.9. The apparatus of claim 8, the memory storing instructions which whenexecuted by the processor cause the processor to alter the color spaceof the object by: determining an optimal color space in relation to thetransition.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, the memory storinginstructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor toalter the color space of the object by: receiving a representativedataset containing at least one of: i) one or more images of the otherone of the two or more segments of the environment, or ii) one or morevideos of the other one of the two or more segments of the environment;processing the representative dataset to create a histogram of the otherone of the two or more segments of the environment; identifying a mostprevalent plurality of colors associated with the other one of the twoor more segments of the environment based on the histogram; anddetermining a related plurality of colors based on the histogram,wherein the related plurality of colors include at least one of: i) anabsent color in relation to the other one of the two or more segments ofthe environment, or ii) at least one least prevalent color associatedwith the other one of the two or more segments of the environment, andwherein the altered color space of the object is based on the relatedplurality of colors.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, the memory storinginstructions which when executed by the processor cause the processorto: determine a range of additional colors, including a plurality ofcolors in between the related plurality of colors and the most prevalentplurality of colors.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, the memory storinginstructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor todetermine the optimal color space by: utilizing a tristimulus colorsystem such that the most prevalent plurality colors are mappedaccording to an RGB color space.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, thememory storing instructions which when executed by the processor causethe processor to determine the optimal color space by: converting themapped RGB color space to another color space.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 13, wherein another color space has at least one luminancechannel.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the object includes afiducial marker, wherein the color space of the object is governed byfiducial marker, wherein the color space conversion includes convertingthe RGB color space to an XYZ color space, and wherein the color spaceconversion further includes converting the XYZ color space to a LABcolor space.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, the memory storinginstructions which when executed by the processor cause the processorto: determine at least one set of color coordinates for each one of themost prevalent plurality of colors according to the another color spaceand determining at least one set of color coordinates corresponding tothe related plurality of colors according to the another color space,wherein the at least one set of coordinates of the most prevalentplurality of colors being perpendicular, with respect to the anothercolor space, to the at least one set of coordinates of the relatedplurality of colors.
 17. A method, comprising: setting, by a computerprocessor, one or more camera devices to determine, for each of two ormore environment segments of an environment, a respective distinctenvironment color space based on a quadtree scheme representation of thetwo or more environment segments; and altering, by the processor, acolor space of an object based on a movement of the object in relationto the environment, wherein the object transitions from one of the twoor more environment segments into the other one of the two or moresegments, and wherein the alteration is based on the transition from thecolor space of the one of the two or more environment segments into theother one of the two or more environment segments.
 18. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable program codeexecutable by a processor to: set one or more camera devices todetermine, for each of two or more environment segments of anenvironment, a respective distinct environment color space based on aquadtree scheme representation of the two or more environment segments;and alter a color space of an object based on a movement of the objectin relation to the environment, wherein the object transitions from oneof the two or more environment segments into the other one of the two ormore segments, and wherein the alteration is based on the transitionfrom the color space of the one of the two or more environment segmentsinto the other one of the two or more environment segments.